Ships in 1-3 Days

Designs: You Pick

Weight: 0.5 ounces

Size: 6.5 x 6.5 inches (16.5 x 16.5 cm)

Description: Buy any four food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable sandwich bags made from thick European cotton fabric and receive the fifth one for free; hand-sewn in the USA

Manufacturer: LunchSkins

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Green
Weight: 1.9 ounces (54 grams)
Size: 1.75 x 2.25 inches (4.4 x 5.7 cm)
Description: The EcoStapler tightly binds up to 5 pieces of paper with a brilliant, common-sense method that requires no staples
Manufacturer: Arvee Corporation

We offer private labeling on our EcoStaplers - please email info@greenostrich if you are interested

Make a Choice: The EcoStapler requires no metal staples. Incredibly easy to use, simply place the papers you need to staple inside the EcoStapler. When you press down on it or squeeze it, just like a regular stapler, the EcoStapler does not shoot out a metal staple. Instead, it pierces a hole in the sheet, much like a hole-puncher. The extra paper from the hole is then tied and bound directly to all the papers, keeping them secured together. The common-sense design will stun you. With an eco-friendly EcoStapler, you may never need to purchase a staple again.

Not a Sacrifice: "Staples are wasteful and have a huge carbon footprint. The most common type of office staple is made with galvanized steel—that's steel that's been re-heated and coated with a layer of zinc. As you can imagine, this double heating process is a pretty energy intensive task. From mining and transporting ore, to smelting and forming the staples one at a time from wire spools, staples gobble up energy at every step of their production and use. This energy use causes millions of tons of pollution. Since staples are tiny, they rarely get recycled. In fact, they often increase the cost of recycling paper because they contaminate the recycling stream and can jam machinery. In paper recycling centers, the staples are pulled from the line by powerful magnets and screening filters, and then they're thrown away as a recycling byproduct." See http://www.practicalenvironmentalist.com/eco-gadgets/get-rid-of-metal-staples-and-green-your-office.htm.

The EcoStapler is as effective as regular staplers for documents of 5 pages or less – the most common type of stapling. It saves money on staples at the office, school, or at home, has a low carbon footprint, and makes a practical green gift.

Feature List

• Requires no metal staples
• Uses unique paper binding method to fasten sheets together
• Will staple up to 5 pieces of paper
• Works like a regular metal stapler
• Saves money on staples

Ships in 1-3 Days

Designs: You Pick
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Buy any four food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bags made from thick European cotton fabric and receive the fifth one for free; hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: You Pick
Weight: 5.1 ounces
Size: 1.6 x 8.25 inches (4.1 x 21 cm)
Description: Reduce your forkprint and save $2.00 by purchasing three sets of durable, dishwasher safe bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - bundled in cases made of recycled PET plastic - normally $33.33
Manufacturer: To-Go Ware
Please write in your choice of three case colors in the Notes field at checkout.  Select from Avocado, Hijiki, and Pumpkin.

Review: "...The set includes a bamboo fork, spoon, knife, and a set of chopsticks in a handy little carrying case. All of the utensils are dishwasher safe, stain resistant, and heat resistant. It makes my life so much easier when I can just throw it in the dishwasher and not worry about it!

Eric has found this set fantastic for work. It fits easily in his lunchbox and the carrying case keeps all the utensils together and easy to find. One of the things he likes best about them is how durable and strong they are. Plastic utensils can always be so difficult to use, the fork won't pierce the food or the knife simply isn't strong enough to cut. But that's not the case with these, they easily do both. Not to mention how beautiful they are. I love the color of the bamboo and the design of the utensils. Eric has gotten many compliments from co-workers on how they are not only beautiful but also unique and practical."

Read the rest of the review at From Chalkboards To Strollers Blog

Make a Choice: Most people use a travel mug. Many are moving to reusable shopping bags and totes. The next evolution for all of us will be to carry our own set of utensils. To-Go Ware has made this set of heat-resistant, stain-resistant, lightweight bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - to prepare for the coming carry-your-own-utensil movement. Dishwasher-safe, the utensils fit in a RePEaT case, made out of RPET (recycled PET plastic) that To-Go-Ware likes to call "RePEaT," because it reincarnates plastic. Recycled PET plastic comes from plastic tea, juice, soda and water bottles that would otherwise end up in a landfill. A handy carabiner hangs off of the back of each RePEaT case for easy transport.

Bamboo is durable, stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Our bamboo utensils are made in China by a small cottage industry factory that a third-party auditor has ensured uses fair labor practices and sources from a controlled, sustainable bamboo forest.

Each spoon, fork, knife, and chopstick is made from a single sheet of bamboo without the use of glue. Bamboo is naturally more water-resistant than wood and does not stain easily. To-Go-Ware has increased their durability by sealing each utensil with a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant made of Potassium Permanganate (a water-soluble salt often used as a disinfectant), Acetic Acid (an organic, relatively weak acid found universally in food, water, and soil), Heptane (most frequently used as oil repellant, distilled from the resin of the Jeffery Pine and the fruit of the Petroleum Nut Tree), and Ethanol (sugar-based and the most commonly used form of alcohol). Recent lab tests have shown that no heavy metals were detected in the sealant, including lead, arsenic, mercury, or chromium.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic utensils, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, many of these plastic forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastic utensils. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated.  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A. 

Our To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Sets in Recycled Plastic Cases are dishwasher-safe, durable, and 100% biodegradable. The fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks are as functional as any plastic utensil, enable you to eat on the go, make a great green gift, and they come without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to your health.

Feature List

• Three sets for $31.50; save $3.00 (normally $34.50)
• Three (3) bamboo forks, three (3) bamboo knives, three (3) bamboo spoons, and three (3) sets of bamboo chopsticks
• Hand-finished with top grade, natural, food-safe wood oil
• Three (3) cases made from 100% recycled PET plastic (tea, juice, soda, and water bottles)
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% biodegradable
• Attached carabiner for easy transport

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Black
Weight: 4.2 ounces (119 grams)
Size: 8.8 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches (22.4 x 14.2 x 3.8 cm)
Description: Paperless, wireless LCD writing tablet for the home, office, school, and athletic field
Manufacturer: iMPROV Electronics, a Kent Displays Company

Review: "My grandchildren and I loved writing on the Boogie Board. It doesn't erase until you push the erase button. They had lots of fun with it but I decided this is something my hubby can use at work. I called and described it to him and he asked me to send it to him ASAP. He goes through several mini-notebooks a week, writing down his notes and then transfers them daily onto his Log Report. He loves the idea of just jotting stuff down on the Boogie Board and not having to carry around all those notebooks. So, there goes the fun for the grandkids and myself! lol"

Read the rest of the review at Fun Fritz Family Blog

"We have had so much fun playing with the Boogie Board! The kids like using it in the car, it’s great for car games. I’ve used it to leave notes for the kids and it is great for writing down things from phone messages. It is so nice not having to waste paper! I highly recommend the Boogie Board, it would make a great gift!"

Read the rest of the review at Songberries Blog

Make a Choice: The Boogie Board™ tablet is an ultra 1/8-inch thin, paperless, wireless LCD writing tablet for the home, office, school, and athletic field. It fits in a purse, scheduler, briefcase or backpack. Measuring 8.8 x 5.6 inches (223.52 x 142.24 mm), it includes as much writing space as a half sheet of letter-size paper. The Boogie Board tablet weighs only 4.2 ounces. Erase your image with the touch of a button – and a friendly flash from the liquid crystal display. The Boogie Board tablet's pressure-sensitive LCD writing surface creates lines of different thickness based on how hard you push – just like paper and pen. Write or draw with the included stainless steel, telescoping stylus or any other suitable instrument – even your finger. You’ll never need to search for a pen or pencil again. Writing tools that will mark or scratch the LCD, such as pens or pencils, are not recommended. The Reflex LCD technology utilized by the Boogie Board tablet is reflective. Display contrast is proportional to ambient light, so bright light offers the optimal contrast. Adults will use the Boogie Board as a phone memo pad, refrigerator notes, family game score pad, sketches, notes, diagramming sports plays, quick sports stats, memo pad, and a to do list. Kids will use the Boogie Board to practice handwriting, write spelling words, and solve math problems.

Not a Sacrifice: “The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year.” See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/paper/faqs.htm. Globally the deforestation challenges on Earth are many, controversial, and range from the alarming to the catastrophic. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation. According to The Forest Stewardship Council, “[i]n many forests around the world, logging still contributes to habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples, and violence against people who work in the forest and the wildlife that dwells there. . . . The U.S. is the largest market for paper products in the world, producing 90 million tons of paper annually and, in-turn, consuming about 100 million tons. Despite improved technologies for refining post consumer pulp, virgin fiber is still a significant requirement, as only 35% of current consumption is met by using recycled fiber; in addition, approximately 25% of recovered fiber is exported out of US markets. Roughly 25% by volume of timber cut annually in the US is used for paper production.” See http://www.fscus.org/.

The Boogie Board by iMPROV Electronics, a Kent Displays Company, is as good as any pad of paper used for taking notes or a quick to do list. Committed to their “Push Green” philosophy, Kent Displays’ is committed to sustainability through technology innovation, both in the type of products it brings to market and in the processes we use to manufacture them. The Boogie Board is an innovative solution to our global challenge to deforestation and makes a green gift that will last for years.



Feature List

• 8.8 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches (22.4 x 14.2 x 3.8) cm LCD writing tablet
• Battery will last 6 years, if the tablet is erased 20 times a day
• Battery-replacement free of charge (shipping not included)
• Writing surface is pressure sensitive, displaying different line thicknesses based on the amount of pressure you apply
• Impact-resistant case makes Boogie Board appropriate for children of all ages

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Apple Green
Size: 25 oz. (750 ml; 3.2 cups) capacity
Weight: 3.1 oz. (89 grams)
Description: A dishwasher-safe apple green, apple-shaped storage container made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Review: "These food storage containers are so cool...really! I took them to work the other day and all my co-workers were asking me about them and where I found them. I love that the color is so eye-catching. I even had a little boy walk by the lunch room and say to his mom that he wanted my bowls...haha. See for yourselves...aren't they just great?!

Not only is the color great, but the lids are too! They're not pop-on lids, they're screw-top lids. I put the container in my lunch-box and usually I have to be very careful with making sure it stays upright...not anymore!"

Read the rest of the review at Freebies and Much More

Make a Choice: Shaped and colored like green apples, our Food Storage Containers are a friendly addition to any refrigerator or lunchbox. Our 25-ounce (750 ml; 3.2 cups) large containers are great for just about anything. They have screw-top lids that will not pop off in your backpack or briefcase. They are stackable to conserve valuable cabinet space.

When Preserve set out to make food storage containers, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the food storage containers forever. They tested and re-tested the containers to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a screw-top to ensure that nothing leaks into a purse, briefcase, or bag.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Some of these pieces of plastic are plastic food storage containers or tupperware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, some of the plastic food storage containers and tupperware are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Apple Green Large Food Storage containers are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The containers are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• 25 ounce (750 ml; 3.2 cups) capacity
• Seal-tight, screw-top lid
• Stackable
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Freezer-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Red Apples
Weight: 0.5 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 6.5 inches (16.5 x 16.5 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable sandwich bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Sandwich Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 6 inch pouch is designed to hold a traditional sandwich, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic sandwich bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 6.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Red Apples Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Bamboo
Description: Backpack with bamboo design made from 100% recycled 600D polyester and plastic; 3% of gross sales contributed to the WILD Foundation
Dimensions: 18 inches/45.7 cm (h) x 13 inches/33.0 cm (w) x 7.5 inches/19.1 cm (d)
Manufacturer: Instinctive Recycled Bags and Backpacks

Make a Choice: Made from 100% recycled 600D polyester main body fabric, 100% recycled polyester webbing, and 100% recycled plastic buckles, the Recycled Polyester and Plastic Bamboo Backpack from Instinctive Bags and Backpacks (also known as Motive Collective LLC) is one of the most eco-friendly on Earth. It has a rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating on the underside of the body fabric. Three percent (3%) of all Backpack gross sales are contributed to The WILD Foundation (http://www.wild.org ), the only international organization dedicated entirely and explicitly to wilderness protection around the world. Motive Collective also offers a Lifetime Takeback Policy. If at any time, you are ready to stop using your Backpack, simply ship it directly to Instinctive Bags(email takeback@motivecollective.com for detailed instructions). The company will repair your old bag as necessary and donate it to someone who needs it; you will receive ANY in stock bag, tote, or backpack for 10% off wholesale cost plus shipping. This is an unlimited service, but certain time restrictions may apply.

Not a Sacrifice: "Polyester is the most widely used manufactured fiber and is made from petroleum. Demand has nearly doubled globally in the last 15 years. Making it is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil. Emissions during manufacturing include volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, all of which may cause or aggravate respiratory disease." See Claudio L 2007. Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry. Environmental Health Perspectives 115:A449-A454. doi:10.1289/ehp.115-a449 at http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.115-a449 . Most polyester is not biodegradable, although that is changing slowly with new polyesters now on the market. Recycled polyester lowers our dependence on oil and creates less contamination. The Recycled Polyester and Plastic Bamboo Backpack does not require a sacrifice in function. It offers the same or better features as new polyester backpacks, is eco-friendly, and will last for years. It makes a great green gift for kids or adults for office, home, or school.

Feature List

• 2 large compartments
• Padded laptop sleeve
• Ergonomic back panel & shoulder strap pad
• Removable cell phone pocket
• Side cargo pockets
• Organizer
• Reinforced base panel for durability
• Premium YKK Zippers
• 100% Recycled 600D Polyester Main Body Fabric
• 100% Recycled Polyester Webbing
• 100% Recycled Plastic Buckles
• Rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating
• Lifetime Takeback Policy
• Manufactured in a Fair Labor Association and Social Accountability International approved factory

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Yellow and Black
Weight: 9 ounces (255 grams)
Size: 23.0 x 9.0 inches (7.6 x 22.9 cm)
Description: Lightweight, automotive emergency tool that, in the event of a crash, will shatter side windows, will rip through a seat belt, will charge a cell phone, and will signal for help; self-powered and recharges for an hour of light with one minute of winding

Manufacturer: Wind ‘N Go

Make a Choice: In the event of an auto accident or a survival situation, having the right tool may make all the difference between a few bumps and bruises and serious injuries or even death. The Wind ‘N Go Emergency Tool is something everyone should have in their car or truck. It includes a steel hammer that will shatter side windows, a cutter that will rip through a seat belt, a high-powered 1-LED flashlight, a red emergency flashing beacon, and a cell phone charger. Three magnets around the flashlight lens will firmly attach the Emergency Tool to a car or trick to signal for help hands-free. Water resistant, it requires no batteries or electricity, and the LED bulb will never need replacing. Winding the hand crank for about a minute will operate the flashlight for 1 hour, the red emergency flashing beacon for 1 hour, and thanks to the included Nokia phone adaptor cable, with a few cranks, will give you a few minutes of emergency cell phone battery life. (Wind ‘N Go and Soladyne Cell Phone Adaptor Kit for other brands sold separately.)

Not a Sacrifice: Disposable household batteries are estimated to account for more than 50% of the cadmium in the MSW and 88% of mercury in municipal solid waste (MSW) stream - our trash, despite the fact that cadmium was banned in electronics in 2004 in the European Union. Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency. The WWF recently endorsed a UNIROSS study in the UK that showed that rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on non-renewable natural resources as do disposable batteries. "In the UK, 660 million batteries are bought each year. 95 percent of these are disposable - cumulatively that's an enormous amount of batteries heading straight to landfill, releasing damaging chemicals into the environment. It's wasteful and unnecessary," says Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK. See http://www.uniross.com/consumer_html/enviroment.php. Our Wind ‘N Go Emergency Tool requires no electricity and is more reliable and eco-friendly than disposable battery-operated tools. This life-saving device makes a great green gift for anyone with a car or truck that wants to have the right tool available in an emergency. Always a few hand cranks away from enough power for 90 minutes of emergency lighting and 45 minutes of radio, it makes a great green gift that everyone should own.

Feature List

• One (1) super-bright LED that does not need replacing
• Red emergency beacon
• Emergency hammer to break a car window
• Seat belt cutter
• Strong magnets to hold the unit to a steel surface while operating the emergency beacon
• Water-resistant
• Cell Phone Charging Adapter (Nokia only)
• Wind ‘N Go Emergency Tool Product Data Sheet
• Compatible with Wind 'N Go and Soladyne Cell Phone Adapter Kit

Ships in 5-7 Days

Design: Green Leaves
Weight: 0.5 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 6.5 inches (16.5 x 16.5 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable sandwich bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Sandwich Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 6 inch pouch is designed to hold a traditional sandwich, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic sandwich bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 6.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Green Leaves Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Blue Circuit
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Blue Circuit Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Lavender
Weight: 7 ounces (198 grams)
Size: 4 x 4 x 3 inches (10.2 x 10.2 x 7.6 cm)
Ages: 6 months+
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe, lavender feeding bowls for babies and toddlers made from 100% recycled, curbside-collected milk containers
Manufacturer: Green Toys

Make a Choice: The Recycled Milk Container Lavender Feeding Bowls from Green Toys are dishwasher-safe and reuse 100% recycled milk containers collected curbside and sorted by local recycling companies. These durable bowls, made to hand down to multiple generations of young children learning to feed themselves, will last for years and is a great green gift. After some reprocessing of the milk containers, Green Toys creates clean #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the safest, cleanest plastics in the world. On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of these toys saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, and saves enough electricity to power a TV for three weeks or keep a laptop computer running for a month. SOURCE: US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Not a Sacrifice: Most feeding bowls today are made from new, not recycled plastic. Every purchase of feeding bowls made from new plastic contributes to the mounting challenges with the substance that degrades slowly over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. What's more, many of these bowls are made of new plastic contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastic bowls. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our dishwasher-safe, recycled plastic feeding bowls offer all the durability of feeding bowls made from new plastic, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to the health of your kids.

Feature List

• Includes four (4) dishwasher-safe, lavender feeding bowls
• Made in the USA
• Appropriate for 6 months and older; meets EN71, ASTM F963, ISO 8124 and the CPSIA
• Meets FDA standards for food contact; wash thoroughly before and after each use
• Not microwave-safe
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% Recycled #2 HDPE (Plastic Milk Containers)
• 100% Recycled Packaging Printed with Soy Ink

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Red Stripes
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Red Stripes Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free

Ships in 1-3 Days

Sandwich Bag Design: Green Leaves
Snack Bag Design: Green Dots
To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Case: Avocado
Description: Our EcoLunch set includes one (1) LunchSkins Green Leaves reusable sandwich size bag, one (1) Lunchskins reusable Green Dot snack size bag, and one (1) set of reusable bamboo utentils in a recycled plastic Avocado case. All items are dishwasher-safe.

Review: "Say goodbye to those plastic utensils and lunch bags because GreenOstrich has designed a better way to enjoy your lunch on the go. GreenOstrich To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set and LunchSkins Reusable Sandwich and snack bags help you to save the environment. The Bamboo utensils are sturdy and made for the best food safe wood. You get one fork, one knife, one spoon, and one set of chop sticks that all come in a carrying case made of recycled plastic bottles. The carrying case has a handy clip so you can attach it to anything and never forget it. The LunchSkins come in two sizes for convenience."

Read the rest of the review at My Sentiment Exact Lee Blog

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Red, Yellow and Blue
Weight: 8.2 ounces (232 grams)
Size: 5 x 9 x 5 inches (12.7 x 22.9 x 12.7 cm)
Ages: 6 months+
Description: Floating dishwasher-safe Tugboat with wide spout for scooping and dumping water made from 100% recycled, curbside-collected milk containers
Manufacturer: Green Toys
Green Toys' Sustainable Manufacturing Process
Please write in your choice of tugboat in the Notes field at checkout. Select from Red Handle on Blue-Topped Boat, Yellow Handle on Red-Topped Boat, or Blue Handle on Yellow-Topped Boat.

Review: "When I unpacked this toy from the shipping box, Liam ran for it immediately - and started 'swimming' it around the living room... he didn't even wait to take it to the bath tub...

Once he finished with it, I was able to get a closer look - this is a really sturdy toy that will offer hours of fun in the tub and, as Liam proves time and again when he takes it out of the bathroom, out of the tub too! This tugboat is well fitted and has no small parts that can be lost, swallowed or damaged - and is a bright and colorful toy!"

Read the rest of the review at Acting Balanced Blog

Make a Choice: The Recycled Milk Container Floating Tugboat from Green Toys is dishwasher-safe and reuses 100% recycled milk containers collected curbside and sorted by local recycling companies. This durable toy, made to hand down to multiple generations of children, will last for years and is a great green gift. After some reprocessing of the milk containers, Green Toys creates clean #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the safest, cleanest plastics in the world. On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of these toys saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, and saves enough electricity to power a TV for three weeks or keep a laptop computer running for a month.SOURCE: US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Not a Sacrifice: Most toys today are made from new, not recycled plastic. Every purchase of toys made from new plastic contributes to the mounting challenges with the substance that degrades slowly over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. What's more, most toys made of new plastic contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these toys. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Green Toys Recycled Milk Container Floating Tugboat offers all of the fun of a floating tugboat made from new plastic, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to the health of your kids.

Feature List

• Floats
• Wide spout for scooping and dumping water
• Made in the USA
• Appropriate for 6 months and older; meets EN71, ASTM F963, ISO 8124 and the CPSIA
• Meets FDA standards for food contact; wash thoroughly before and after each use
• Dishwasher-safe
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% Recycled #2 HDPE (Plastic Milk Containers)
• 100% Recycled Packaging Printed with Soy Ink

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Yellow and Black
Weight: 5 ounces (142 grams)
Size: 2.0 x 5.5 inches (5.1 x 14.0 cm)
Description: Lightweight, super-bright, 3-LED yellow and black flashlight includes a solar charging panel and a hand-cranking system; self-powered, it recharges for 15 hours of light with a full day of sunlight or for 1 hour of light with one minute of winding
Manufacturer: SolaDyne

Review: "Is there anyone that can't use a flashlight? I know in our house we have a couple of flashlights. But do they work? Well they would if we had batteries in them and of course remembering to buy batteries at a store is not a priority for me and so I will forget until the time comes when I need the flashlight!

The SolaDyne Solar Flashlight requires no batteries so I was super happy about that. But did it work? There are two ways this flashlight can work. 1) Sit it out in the sunlight 2) Use the hand crank. These are perfect options for me!!!"

Read the rest of the review at A Shoppers Quest

Make a Choice: The SolaDyne Solar Flashlight operates with 3 super-bright LEDs that never need replacing. The flashlight has two modes of operation – high (3 LEDs) and low (1 LED). It requires no disposable batteries and no electricity. With a full day of sunlight, the solar panel will charge the lithium ion internal rechargeable battery to operate 1 LED for approximately 15 hours and 3 LEDs for approximately 5 hours. Winding the hand crank for about a minute will operate 1 LED for approximately 1 hour and 3 LEDs for approximately 30 minutes. It also includes a Nokia phone adaptor cable that, with a few cranks, will give you a few minutes of emergency cell phone battery life.

Not a Sacrifice: Disposable household batteries are estimated to account for more than 50% of the cadmium in the MSW and 88% of mercury in municipal solid waste (MSW) stream - our trash, despite the fact that cadmium was banned in electronics in 2004 in the European Union. Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency. The WWF recently endorsed a UNIROSS study in the UK that showed that rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on non-renewable natural resources as do disposable batteries. "In the UK, 660 million batteries are bought each year. 95 percent of these are disposable - cumulatively that's an enormous amount of batteries heading straight to landfill, releasing damaging chemicals into the environment. It's wasteful and unnecessary," says Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK. See http://www.uniross.com/consumer_html/enviroment.php. Our SolaDyne Solar Flashlight liberates its owner from disposable batteries. It operates as well or better as disposable battery-powered flashlights. Leave it in the sun for a day, and it will charge itself for up to 15 hours of use. If it rains, a few hand cranks generate enough power for a full hour of emergency lighting. This durable flashlight makes a great green gift for a purse, camping, fishing, travel, home, garage, office, and during power emergencies.

Feature List

• Three (3) 1/2-Watt LEDs
• Focused lens concentrates the beam of light
• 2 modes of operation - high (3 LEDs) and low (1 LED)
• Solar charging panel
• Hand-crank charging system
• Wrist Strap
• Cell Phone Charging Adapter (Nokia only)
• SolaDyne Flashlight Instruction Manual
• SolaDyne Flashlight Product Data Sheet
• Compatible with Wind 'N Go and Soladyne Cell Phone Adapter Kit

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Ice Blue
Size: 1 inch square (25.4 mm square)
Description: Reclaimed 1940s ice blue Mason Jar large square pendant handcrafted in Pennsylvania and hung from a 2 mm sterling silver necklace
Artist: Laura Bergman
Company: Bottled Up Designs

Review: "As a kid, living in Poland, I remember collecting pieces of colored glass. This may sound weird to you, but I thought the little bits of glass were beautiful. There was a cobble stone street near my grandmother's house where, for some reason, there was always a lot of broken glass, in just about every color. My favorite was red and blue. I was so excited when I received a chance to review the Reclaimed 1940s Ice Blue Mason Jar Pendant from Green Ostrich.

Isn't it beautiful? I love it and have been getting so many complements on it, how original and unique it is. It is now my favorite necklace by far, especially since it reminds me of being a kid :)"

Read the rest of the review at Diary of a Stay Home Mom

Make a Choice: Our striking recycled glass and China jewelry is handmade in Pennsylvania from antique glass, dishware, and bottles reclaimed from the natural wooded habitats and rural farmlands. The glass in this ice blue pendant, hung from a sterling silver wire, originates from a 1940s Mason Jar, commonly used for preserving and canning fruit, vegetables, and jelly. Each piece of jewelry from Bottled Up Designs comes with a small "Story of the Glass," detailing the origin and age of the glass.

The artist, Laura Bergman, has lived in Pennsylvania Amish Country all of her life. She spends countless hours poking through old glass and bottle dumps scattered throughout the forests where she lives. Several years ago, she found herself bothered by the fact that broken glass is often left on the ground for wildlife and people to stumble upon, so she decided to pick up the pieces and turn them into something beautiful. Her line of recycled glass jewelry was born.

Not a Sacrifice: National Geographic writes, in its jewelry section of its Green Guide for Everyday Living, the following: "[as] a general rule, mining the earth for all the gold, silver, platinum and titanium that go into trinkets and jewelry is not ecologically sound. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hard-rock mining produces more toxic waste than any other industry in the United States. Some mines extract as little as one ounce of gold from 100 tons of excavated earth, and, according to the environmental group WorldWatch Institute, the gold produced for a single 0.33 ounce, 18-karat gold ring generates 18 tons of mine waste.

Cyanide heap leaching (where cyanide is sprayed on piles of gold and ore to separate them) and acid mine drainage (a slurry of arsenic, lead and mercury) have given gold mining the reputation of being one of the dirtiest industries in existence. Cyanide mixtures and acid mine drainage are both stored in underground ponds, after being used to extract gold, but the lined ponds don't always offer the best protection. These toxic liquids can eat through linings and earth, causing underground reservoirs to collapse and pollute nearby water supplies and rivers. Open pit mines can also fill with acidic water, which kills birds and other wildlife when they drink it.

Mining also consumes as much as 10 percent of the world's energy supply. According to the report 'Dirty Metals', published by Oxfam America and the environmental nonprofit Earthworks, the U.S. mining industry consumes the same amount of energy needed to power 25 million single-family homes for a year. Converting all that mined ore into a material suitable for jewelry is also responsible for nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide, both potent greenhouse gases and components of smog and acid rain." See http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/jewelry/environmental_impact.

Our Reclaimed 1940s Ice Blue Mason Jar Pendant by artist Laura Bergman forgoes all of the environmental trappings of common jewelry, has a low carbon footprint, is eco-friendly, and makes an excellent green gift.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Red and Black
Weight: 12 ounces (340 grams)
Size: 2.5 x 2.5 x 7.0 inches (6.4 x 6.4 x 17.8 cm)
Description: Self-powered flashlight, AM/FM radio, NOAA Weather band radio with telescoping antenna, cell phone charger, high-decibel siren with flashing red emergency LED, glow-in-the-dark ring, and low glow LED all in one; self-powered and recharges for 45 minutes of radio or 90 minutes of light with one minute of winding
Manufacturer: Wind ‘N Go

Review: "I was really excited for this flashlight for a few reasons. One, we have many flashlights in the house but they all don't work, why? We never put batteries in them, haha. Two, not only is this a flashlight but it also has a Radio, NOAA Weather band radio with telescoping antenna, cell phone charger, high-decibel siren with flashing red emergency LED, glow-in-the-dark ring, and low glow LED all in one. Pretty high tech right? And will definitely help us out in case of a blackout or crazy emergency."

Read the rest of the review at Star Impulse

"We live in tornado alley and are always packing a bag with the many items that we have to have such as, chargers, flashlights, batteries and radios, but now their is no need we can just grab the Wind 'N Go Ultralight and not have to worry about if we have forgotten anything."

Read the rest of the review at Kostiuk Crew

"This is what I received in the box for the UltraLight: cell phone adaptor, battery, instructions, warranty card and the flashlight. I like the weight of the flashlight. It definitely seems well-made and heavy-duty. I like that is has more than one function – the radio will come in handy for emergency situations/fun when camping. I’ve always wanted a wind-up/rechargeable flashlight. I hate when I run out of batteries, since most flashlights use large batteries that I don’t have extras of."

Read the rest of the review at Being Tazim

Make a Choice: The Ultralight by Wind ‘N Go is one of the best safety devices ever invented and will complete the emergency kit that everyone should own. It offers a reliable light and communication source in the event of an emergency, thanks to a hand crank that, with only 1 minute of winding, delivers 45 minutes of AM/FM or NOAA Weather band radio or 90 minutes of light from five (5) super bright LEDs that never need replacing. Requiring no disposable batteries or electricity, the hand crank charges a rechargeable lithium ion battery that will last about 10 years. Additionally, the Ultralight includes a 90-decibel alarm, flashing red emergency light, a glow-in-the-dark ring, and low glow LED - all of which will help in the direst of circumstances. The cell phone charger for Nokia phones will provide ten minutes of talk time after one minute of winding; additional cell phone adapters are available.

Not a Sacrifice: Disposable household batteries are estimated to account for more than 50% of the cadmium in the MSW and 88% of mercury in municipal solid waste (MSW) stream - our trash, despite the fact that cadmium was banned in electronics in 2004 in the European Union. Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency. The WWF recently endorsed a UNIROSS study in the UK that showed that rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on non-renewable natural resources as do disposable batteries. "In the UK, 660 million batteries are bought each year. 95 percent of these are disposable - cumulatively that's an enormous amount of batteries heading straight to landfill, releasing damaging chemicals into the environment. It's wasteful and unnecessary," says Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK. See http://www.uniross.com/consumer_html/enviroment.php. Our Ultralight requires no disposable batteries, yet performs all of the functions of comparable battery-operated devices; no sacrifice is required. It saves owners money because they do not need to purchase and maintain at least 5 other tools as follows: emergency radio, flashlight, strobe light, siren, and emergency cell phone charger. Most of these items are recommended by the Red Cross to complete an emergency kit. See http://www.redcross.org. Always a few hand cranks away from enough power for 90 minutes of emergency lighting and 45 minutes of radio, it makes a great green gift that everyone should own.

Feature List

• 5 Super Bright LEDs with 3 operating settings
• AM/FM Radio
• NOAA Weather Band Radio
• Glow-in-the-dark ring and low glow LED illumination to help you find it in the dark
• Flashing red emergency LED
• Wrist Strap
• Touchpad controls
• Cell Phone Charging Adapter (Nokia only)
• Wind ‘N Go Ultralight Instruction Manual
• Wind ‘N Go Ultralight Product Data Sheet
• Compatible with Wind 'N Go and Soladyne Cell Phone Adapter Kit

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Ruby Red
Size: ¼ x 1 inches (6.4 mm x 25.4 mm)
Description: Reclaimed 1940s ruby red Schlitz beer bottle earrings handcrafted in Pennsylvania and hung from sterling silver wire
Artist: Laura Bergman
Company: Bottled Up Designs

Review: "As a kid, living in Poland, I remember collecting pieces of colored glass. This may sound weird to you, but I thought the little bits of glass were beautiful. There was a cobble stone street near my grandmother's house where, for some reason, there was always a lot of broken glass, in just about every color. My favorite was red and blue. I was so excited when I received a chance to review the Reclaimed 1940s Ice Blue Mason Jar Pendant from Green Ostrich.

Isn't it beautiful? I love it and have been getting so many complements on it, how original and unique it is. It is now my favorite necklace by far, especially since it reminds me of being a kid :)"

Read the rest of the review at Diary of a Stay Home Mom

Make a Choice: Our striking recycled glass and China jewelry is handmade in Pennsylvania from antique glass, dishware, and bottles reclaimed from the natural wooded habitats and rural farmlands. The glass in these ruby red earrings, hung from a sterling silver wire, originates from a 1940s Schlitz beer bottle made by Anchor Hocking. Each piece of jewelry from Bottled Up Designs comes with a small "Story of the Glass," detailing the origin and age of the glass.

The artist, Laura Bergman, has lived in Pennsylvania Amish Country all of her life. She spends countless hours poking through old glass and bottle dumps scattered throughout the forests where she lives. Several years ago, she found herself bothered by the fact that broken glass is often left on the ground for wildlife and people to stumble upon, so she decided to pick up the pieces and turn them into something beautiful. Her line of recycled glass jewelry was born.

Not a Sacrifice: National Geographic writes, in its jewelry section of its Green Guide for Everyday Living, the following: "[as] a general rule, mining the earth for all the gold, silver, platinum and titanium that go into trinkets and jewelry is not ecologically sound. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hard-rock mining produces more toxic waste than any other industry in the United States. Some mines extract as little as one ounce of gold from 100 tons of excavated earth, and, according to the environmental group WorldWatch Institute, the gold produced for a single 0.33 ounce, 18-karat gold ring generates 18 tons of mine waste.

Cyanide heap leaching (where cyanide is sprayed on piles of gold and ore to separate them) and acid mine drainage (a slurry of arsenic, lead and mercury) have given gold mining the reputation of being one of the dirtiest industries in existence. Cyanide mixtures and acid mine drainage are both stored in underground ponds, after being used to extract gold, but the lined ponds don't always offer the best protection. These toxic liquids can eat through linings and earth, causing underground reservoirs to collapse and pollute nearby water supplies and rivers. Open pit mines can also fill with acidic water, which kills birds and other wildlife when they drink it.

Mining also consumes as much as 10 percent of the world's energy supply. According to the report 'Dirty Metals', published by Oxfam America and the environmental nonprofit Earthworks, the U.S. mining industry consumes the same amount of energy needed to power 25 million single-family homes for a year. Converting all that mined ore into a material suitable for jewelry is also responsible for nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide, both potent greenhouse gases and components of smog and acid rain." See http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/jewelry/environmental_impact. .

Our Reclaimed 1940s Ruby Red Beer Bottle Earrings by artist Laura Bergman forgo all of the environmental trappings of common jewelry, has a low carbon footprint, is eco-friendly, and makes an excellent green gift.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Dark Camo
Description: Backpack with dark camouflage design made from 100% recycled 600D polyester and plastic; 3% of gross sales contributed to the WILD Foundation
Dimensions: 18 inches/45.7 cm (h) x 13 inches/33.0 cm (w) x 7.5 inches/19.1 cm (d)
Manufacturer: Instinctive Bags and Backpacks

Make a Choice: Made from 100% recycled 600D polyester main body fabric, 100% recycled polyester webbing, and 100% recycled plastic buckles, the Recycled Polyester and Plastic Dark Camo Backpack from Instinctive Bags and Backpacks (also known as Motive Collective LLC) is one of the most eco-friendly on Earth. It has a rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating on the underside of the body fabric. Three percent (3%) of all Backpack gross sales are contributed to The WILD Foundation (http://www.wild.org ), the only international organization dedicated entirely and explicitly to wilderness protection around the world. Motive Collective also offers a Lifetime Takeback Policy. If at any time, you are ready to stop using your Backpack, simply ship it directly to the company (email takeback@motivecollective.com for detailed instructions). Motive Collective will repair your old bag as necessary and donate it to someone who needs it; you will receive ANY in stock bag, tote, or backpack for 10% off wholesale cost plus shipping. This is an unlimited service, but certain time restrictions may apply.

Not a Sacrifice: "Polyester is the most widely used manufactured fiber and is made from petroleum. Demand has nearly doubled globally in the last 15 years. Making it is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil. Emissions during manufacturing include volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, all of which may cause or aggravate respiratory disease." See Claudio L 2007. Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry. Environmental Health Perspectives 115:A449-A454. doi:10.1289/ehp.115-a449 at http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.115-a449 . Most polyester is not biodegradable, although that is changing slowly with new polyesters now on the market. Recycled polyester lowers our dependence on oil and creates less contamination. The Recycled Polyester and Plastic Dark Camo Backpack does not require a sacrifice in function. It offers the same or better features as new polyester backpacks, is eco-friendly, and will last for years. It makes a great green gift for kids or adults for office, home, or school.

Feature List

• 2 large compartments
• Padded laptop sleeve
• Ergonomic back panel & shoulder strap pad
• Removable cell phone pocket
• Side cargo pockets
• Organizer
• Reinforced base panel for durability
• Premium YKK Zippers
• 100% Recycled 600D Polyester Main Body Fabric
• 100% Recycled Polyester Webbing
• 100% Recycled Plastic Buckles
• Rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating
• Lifetime Takeback Policy
• Manufactured in a Fair Labor Association and Social Accountability International approved factory

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Yellow and Black
Weight: 1.8 pounds (0.8 kg)
Size: 5 x 12 inches (12.7 x 30.5 cm)
Description: Lightweight, 12-LED yellow and black lantern includes a solar charging panel and a hand-cranking system; self-powered, it recharges for 6 hours of light with a full day of sunlight or for 30 minutes of light with 1-3 minutes of winding
Manufacturer: SolaDyne

Make a Choice: The SolaDyne Solar Lantern operates with 12 super-bright LEDs that never need replacing. The flashlight has two modes of operation – high (12 LEDs) and low (6 LED). It requires no disposable batteries, no kerosene, and no electricity. It does not generate heat, eliminating all burn danger. With a full day of sunlight, the solar panel will charge the lithium ion internal rechargeable battery to operate 6 LEDs for approximately 6 hours and 12 LEDs for approximately 3 hours. Winding the hand crank for 1-3 minutes will operate 6 LEDs for approximately 30 minutes and 12 LEDs for approximately 20 minutes. It includes a 12-Volt DC car charger that, with 3 hours of charge, will power 6 LEDs for approximately 6 hours and 12 LEDs for approximately 4 hours. The SolaDyne Solar Lantern is a perfect accessory to any emergency preparedness kit.

Not a Sacrifice: Disposable household batteries are estimated to account for more than 50% of the cadmium in the MSW and 88% of mercury in municipal solid waste (MSW) stream - our trash, despite the fact that cadmium was banned in electronics in 2004 in the European Union. Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency. The WWF recently endorsed a UNIROSS study in the UK that showed that rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on non-renewable natural resources as do disposable batteries. "In the UK, 660 million batteries are bought each year. 95 percent of these are disposable - cumulatively that's an enormous amount of batteries heading straight to landfill, releasing damaging chemicals into the environment. It's wasteful and unnecessary," says Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK. See http://www.uniross.com/consumer_html/enviroment.php.

Our SolaDyne Lantern liberates its owner from disposable batteries and kerosene. It operates as well or better than comparable battery-powered or kerosene-powered lanterns. Leave it in the sun for a day, and it will charge itself for up to 6 hours of use. If it rains, a few hand cranks generate enough power for a full 30 minutes of emergency lighting. This durable lantern makes a great green gift for camping, fishing, spelunking, travel, home, garage, office, and during power emergencies.

Feature List

• Twelve (12) super-bright LEDs
• 2 modes of operation - high (12 LEDs) and low (6 LEDs)
• Solar charging panel
• Hand-crank charging system
• Fold-away hook to hang
• Conical reflector for a wide area of light
• 12-Volt DC Car Charger included
• Charging indicator light
• Does not generate heat - no danger of burns
• SolaDyne Solar Lantern Instruction Manual
• SolaDyne Solar Lantern Product Data Sheet
• Compatible with Wind 'N Go and Soladyne Cell Phone Adapter Kit

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Printed Circuit Board
Size: 6" diameter, 7" tall (15.24 cm diameter, 17.78 cm tall)
Description: High-tech conversation-piece desk clock made from retired printed circuit boards.
Manufacturer: TerraCycle

Make a Choice: TerraCycle is in the business of Upcycling, making affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. The process of upcycling converts useless products or disposed-of waste into new products of better quality or or higher environmental value. TerraCycle takes previously utilized printed circuit boards, juice pouches, vinyl records and more and turns them into clocks, backpacks and picture frames.

Not a Sacrifice: Printed circuit boards (PCB), widely used in computers, cell phones, and other electronics, can cause serious environmental problems if not properly disposed. If discarded randomly in landfills, they will leach toxins into groundwater and soil. If burned, PCBs will produce hazardous byproducts (including dioxins, furans, polybrominated organic pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the United States with almost 2.5 million tons winding up in landfills each year. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Statistics on the Management of Used and End-of-Life Electronics, and a paper called "Electonics Waste Management in the United States," only 18 percent of the electronic products ready for End of Life (EOL) management is recycled. In 1999, 1,052,000 tons of electronic waste were produced in the United States; 8 years later, that number has more than doubled to 2,251,000 tons.

The TerraCycle Printed Circuit Board Desk Clock prevents one of those PCBs from ending up in a landfill. It's useful, a conversation piece, and makes for a practical green gift.

Feature List

• 6" in diameter, 7" tall (15.24 cm diameter, 17.78 cm tall)
• Made from retired printed circuit boards, each clock is unique
• Requires one AA battery

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Black Frame, Tan Corks with labels visible
Size: 16" x 16" (40.64 cm x 40.64 cm)
Description: Wine corks collected and re-purposed into a classic black wood frame, creating a fashionable, quirky corkboard
Manufacturer: TerraCycle

Make a Choice: TerraCycle's Wine Corkboard will organize your life and help protect the environment. Restaurants, wineries, and individuals help collect wine corks before they end up as trash. TerraCycle combines the corks with a classic black wood frame to create a stylish, 100% biodegradeable, eco-friendly corkboard, perfect for pinning a shopping list, a photo, or a hook for your keys.

TerraCycle is in the business of Upcycling, making affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. The process of upcycling converts useless products or disposed-of waste into new products of better quality or higher environmental value. TerraCycle takes previously utilized printed circuit boards, wine corks, juice pouches, vinyl records and more and turns them into corkboards, clocks, backpacks and picture frames.

Not a Sacrifice: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day, or a total of 29 pounds (13 kg) per week and 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year. This number does not include industrial waste or commercial trash.

Trash is a pervasive but unnoticed part of our lives. The great irony of waste management is that even the most efficient and well-run waste collection programs remain out of sight, ignored by the public that they serve. Today, many nations face a looming waste management crisis, as their landfills reach capacity and continue to degrade the environment. Waste management is linked to environmental quality in general, and climate change in particular. As paper, food, and other biodegradable waste breaks down in landfills, large amounts of methane are released. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is nearly 70 times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide (CO2). Other heat-trapping gasses like nitrous oxide (nearly 300 times more powerful than CO2) are emitted when plastics and textiles are burned in incinerators. And more CO2 is emitted during the collection and transportation of waste to processing sites at landfills and incinerators.

Waste management also has a significant impact on human health. Chemicals from degrading waste can leak into aquifers and contaminate water supplies. Landfills and older incinerators can also release harmful dioxins, a cancer-causing carcinogen; air pollutants like NOx and SOx, which make up acid rain; and other kinds of particulate matter, which can cause respiratory illnesses. Landfills also provide shelter for disease-carrying agents like rats, flies, and other vermin.

Over 15 billion wine corks are used worldwide every year. Stacked end to end, that would circle the Earth almost 20 times! Whether you are a wine enthusiast, an environmentally responsible consumer, or simply in need of some organization in your life, this upcycled TerraCycle Wine Corkboard will made a great addition to your home or office. Give this green gift to compliment any room.

Feature List

• Design: Black Wood Frame; Labeled Wine Corks
• Size: 16" x 16" (40.64 cm x 40.64 cm)
• 100% biodegradeable materials
• Hardware for hanging corkboard on wall included and installed
• Each corkboard is unique

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Hijiki
Weight: 1.7 ounces (48.2 grams)
Size: 1.6 x 8.25 inches (4.1 x 21.0 cm)
Description: Reduce your forkprint with a set of durable, dishwasher-safe bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - bundled in an Hijiki-colored case made of recycled PET plastic
Manufacturer: To-Go

Review: "...The set includes a bamboo fork, spoon, knife, and a set of chopsticks in a handy little carrying case. All of the utensils are dishwasher safe, stain resistant, and heat resistant. It makes my life so much easier when I can just throw it in the dishwasher and not worry about it!

Eric has found this set fantastic for work. It fits easily in his lunchbox and the carrying case keeps all the utensils together and easy to find. One of the things he likes best about them is how durable and strong they are. Plastic utensils can always be so difficult to use, the fork won't pierce the food or the knife simply isn't strong enough to cut. But that's not the case with these, they easily do both. Not to mention how beautiful they are. I love the color of the bamboo and the design of the utensils. Eric has gotten many compliments from co-workers on how they are not only beautiful but also unique and practical."

Read the rest of the review at From Chalkboards To Strollers Blog

"Well I am loving this utensil set. It is perfect. I am typically to far away from home when out working during the day to come home for lunch. I also don't always have the extra money to stop and grab something to eat while I am out working. Until now I never had a way to make myself a salad to take with me. Well I did but it really got to be a pain keeping track of my utensils and such. So this set is awesome for this. It comes in this handy little carrying case so I can just toss the whole thing in my lunch bag and not have to worry about searching all over for them when I am ready to eat (in my car usually lol). They are really durable and the perfect size. I wasn't to sure how the knife would work as I have never used a bamboo knife before but it works great!! I am completely satisfied with this set.

Read the rest of the review at Miracle Momas Blog

Make a Choice: Most people use a travel mug. Many are moving to reusable shopping bags and totes. The next evolution for all of us will be to carry our own set of utensils. To-Go Ware has made this set of heat-resistant, stain-resistant, lightweight bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - to prepare for the coming carry-your-own-utensil movement. Dishwasher-safe, the utensils fit in a RePEaT case, made out of RPET (recycled PET plastic) that To-Go-Ware likes to call "RePEaT," because it reincarnates plastic. Recycled PET plastic comes from plastic tea, juice, soda and water bottles that would otherwise end up in a landfill. A handy carabiner hangs off of the back of each RePEaT case for easy transport.

Bamboo is durable, stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Our bamboo utensils are made in China by a small cottage industry factory that a third-party auditor has ensured uses fair labor practices and sources from a controlled, sustainable bamboo forest.

Each spoon, fork, knife, and chopstick is made from a single sheet of bamboo without the use of glue. Bamboo is naturally more water-resistant than wood and does not stain easily. To-Go-Ware has increased their durability by sealing each utensil with a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant made of Potassium Permanganate (a water-soluble salt often used as a disinfectant), Acetic Acid (an organic, relatively weak acid found universally in food, water, and soil), Heptane (most frequently used as oil repellant, distilled from the resin of the Jeffery Pine and the fruit of the Petroleum Nut Tree), and Ethanol (sugar-based and the most commonly used form of alcohol). Recent lab tests have shown that no heavy metals were detected in the sealant, including lead, arsenic, mercury, or chromium.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic utensils, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, many of these plastic forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastic utensils. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set in a Recycled Plastic Case is dishwasher-safe, durable, and 100% biodegradable. The fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks are as functional as any plastic utensil, enable you to eat on the go, make a great green gift, and they come without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to your health.

Feature List

• One (1) bamboo fork, one (1) bamboo knife, one (1) bamboo spoon, and one (1) set of bamboo chopsticks
• Hand-finished with top grade, natural, food-safe wood oil
• One (1) Hijiki-colored case made from 100% recycled PET plastic (tea, juice, soda, and water bottles)
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% biodegradable

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Red, Blue and Yellow
Weight: 1.7 pounds (771 grams)
Block Size: 3x 3 x 2.5 inches (7.6 x 7.6 x 6.4 cm)
Ages: 6 months+
Description: Set of Eighteen (18) dishwasher-safe blocks in five (5) different shapes made from 100% recycled, curbside-collected milk containers
Manufacturer: Green Toys

Make a Choice: The Recycled Milk Container 18-Piece Block Set from Green Toys is dishwasher-safe and reuses 100% recycled milk containers collected curbside and sorted by local recycling companies. This durable set of blocks, made to hand down to multiple generations of children, will last for years and is a great green gift. After some reprocessing of the milk containers, Green Toys creates clean #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the safest, cleanest plastics in the world. On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of these toys saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, and saves enough electricity to power a TV for three weeks or keep a laptop computer running for a month. SOURCE: US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Not a Sacrifice: Most toys today are made from new, not recycled plastic. Every purchase of toys made from new plastic contributes to the mounting challenges with the substance that degrades slowly over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. What's more, most toys made of new plastic contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these toys. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Green Toys Recycled Milk Container 18-Piece Block Set offers all of the fun of blocks made from new plastic, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to the health of your kids.

Feature List

• Includes eighteen (18) blocks in five (5) different shapes
• Appropriate for 6+ months; meets EN71, ASTM F963, ISO 8124 and the CPSIA
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% Recycled #2 HDPE (Plastic Milk Containers)
• 100% Recycled Packaging Printed with Soy Ink

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Yellow, Green and Orange
Weight: 1.5 pounds (680 grams)
Size: 5 x 16 x 4 inches (12.7 x 40.8 x 10.2 cm)
Ages: 5 years+
Description: Three (3) Planting Pots, peapod-shaped planter tray, and trowel made from 100% recycled, curbside-collected milk containers; soil and three (3) organic seed packets of Teddy Bear Sunflower, Basil, and Zinnia
Manufacturer: Green Toys

Make a Choice: The Recycled Milk Container Indoor Gardening Kit from Green Toys reuses 100% recycled milk containers collected curbside and sorted by local recycling companies. This durable gardening kit, made to hand down to multiple generations of children, will last for years and is a great green gift. After some reprocessing of the milk containers, Green Toys creates clean #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the safest, cleanest plastics in the world. On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of these toys saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, and saves enough electricity to power a TV for three weeks or keep a laptop computer running for a month.SOURCE: US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Not a Sacrifice: Most toys today are made from new, not recycled plastic. Every purchase of toys made from new plastic contributes to the mounting challenges with the substance that degrades slowly over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. What's more, most toys made of new plastic contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these toys. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Green Toys Recycled Milk Container Indoor Gardening Kit offers all of the fun of a gardening kit made from new plastic, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to the health of your kids.

Feature List

• Easy Planting Instructions: Place soil disks in pots, add a little water, gently push seeds into soil, place pots near a sunlit window, and watch your garden grow
• Includes three (3) planting pots, peapod-shaped planter tray, trowel, and soil
• Includes three (3) organic seed packets of Teddy Bear Sunflower, Basil, and Zinnia
• Made in the USA
• Not dishwasher-safe
• Appropriate for 5 years and older; choking hazard for children under 3 years; use under adult supervision
• Meets ASTM Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety, F963
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% Recycled #2 HDPE (Plastic Milk Containers)
• 100% Recycled Packaging Printed with Soy Ink

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Green Dots
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Green Dots Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Light Blue Flower
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Light Blue Flower Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Mango Dots
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Mango Dots Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Blue, Orange and Green
Weight: 1 pound (454 grams)
Size: 9 x 8 x 4 inches (22.9 x 20.4 x 10.2 cm)
Ages: 2 Years+
Description: Dishwasher-safe stock pot with lid, spatula, ladle, and skillet made from 100% recycled, curbside-collected milk containers
Manufacturer: Green Toys

Make a Choice: The Recycled Milk Container 5-Piece Chef Set from Green Toys is dishwasher-safe and reuses 100% recycled milk containers collected curbside and sorted by local recycling companies. This durable Chef Set, made to hand down to multiple generations of children, will last for years and is a great green gift. After some reprocessing of the milk containers, Green Toys creates clean #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the safest, cleanest plastics in the world. On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of these toys saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, and saves enough electricity to power a TV for three weeks or keep a laptop computer running for a month.SOURCE: US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Not a Sacrifice: Most toys today are made from new, not recycled plastic. Every purchase of toys made from new plastic contributes to the mounting challenges with the substance that degrades slowly over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. What's more, most toys made of new plastic contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these toys. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Green Toys Recycled Milk Container 5-Piece Chef Set offers all of the fun of a chef set made from new plastic, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to the health of your kids.

Feature List

• Includes one (1) stock pot with lid, one (1) spatula, one (1) ladle, and one (1) skillet; all dishwasher-safe
• Appropriate for 2 years and older; meets EN71, ASTM F963, ISO 8124 and the CPSIA
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• Dishwasher-safe
• Not microwave-safe
• 100% Recycled #2 HDPE (Plastic Milk Containers)
• 100% Recycled Packaging Printed with Soy Ink

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Red and Yellow
Weight: 1.4 pounds (635 grams)
Size: 10 x 8 x 7 inches (25.4 x 20.3 x 17.8 cm)
Ages: 12 months+
Description: Dump truck made from 100% recycled, curbside-collected milk containers
Manufacturer: Green Toys

Make a Choice: The Recycled Milk Container Dump Truck from Green Toys reuses 100% recycled milk containers collected curbside and sorted by local recycling companies. This durable toy, made to hand down to multiple generations of children, will last for years and is a great green gift. After some reprocessing of the milk containers, Green Toys creates clean #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the safest, cleanest plastics in the world. On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of these toys saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, and saves enough electricity to power a TV for three weeks or keep a laptop computer running for a month. SOURCE: US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Not a Sacrifice: Most toys today are made from new, not recycled plastic.  Every purchase of toys made from new plastic contributes to the mounting challenges with the substance that degrades slowly over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. What's more, most toys made of new plastic contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects.  Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these toys.  In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated.  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Green Toys Recycled Milk Container Dump Truck offers all of the fun of a dump truck made from new plastic, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to the health of your kids.

Feature List

• Workable dumper with no metal axles
• Made in the USA
• Appropriate for 12 months and older; meets EN71, ASTM F963, ISO 8124 and the CPSIA
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% Recycled #2 HDPE (Plastic Milk Containers)
• 100% Recycled Packaging Printed with Soy Ink

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Red, Silver, Brown, and Blue
Weight: 1.2 pounds (544 grams)
Size: 10 x 5 x 6 inches (25.4 x 12.7 x 15.2 cm)
Ages: 2 Years +
Description: Dishwasher-safe toy tool box, Phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, hammer, saw, wrench, pliers, 2 two-hole connectors, 2 nails, 2 bolts, and 2 nuts made from 100% recycled, curbside-collected milk containers
Manufacturer: Green Toys

Make a Choice: The Recycled Milk Container 15-Piece Toy Tool Set from Green Toys is dishwasher-safe and reuses 100% recycled milk containers collected curbside and sorted by local recycling companies. This durable set of tools, made to hand down to multiple generations of children, will last for years and is a great green gift. After some reprocessing of the milk containers, Green Toys creates clean #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the safest, cleanest plastics in the world. On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of these toys saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, and saves enough electricity to power a TV for three weeks or keep a laptop computer running for a month. SOURCE: US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Not a Sacrifice: Most toys today are made from new, not recycled plastic. Every purchase of toys made from new plastic contributes to the mounting challenges with the substance that degrades slowly over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. What's more, most toys made of new plastic contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these toys. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Green Toys Recycled Milk Container Toy Tool Set offers all of the fun of a tool set made from new plastic, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to the health of your kids.

Feature List

• Includes one (1) toy tool box, one (1) Phillips screwdriver, one (1) flat screwdriver, one (1) hammer, one (1) saw, one (1) wrench, one (1) pliers, two (2) two-hole connectors, two (2) nails, two (2) bolts and two (2) nuts
• Appropriate for 2 years and older; meets EN71, ASTM F963, ISO 8124 and the CPSIA
• Dishwasher-safe
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% Recycled #2 HDPE (Plastic Milk Containers)
• 100% Recycled Packaging Printed with Soy Ink

Ships in 5-7 Days

Design: Navy Blue Sharks
Weight: 0.5 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 6.5 inches (16.5 x 16.5 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable sandwich bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Sandwich Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 6 inch pouch is designed to hold a traditional sandwich, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic sandwich bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 6.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Navy Blue Shark Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 5-7 Days

Design: Green Vertical Stripes
Weight: 0.7 ounces
Size: 7 x 8 inches (17.8 x 20.3 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable submarine bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Submarine Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 7 x 8 inch pouch is designed to hold a submarine sandwich, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 7 x 8 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Green Vertical Strip Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Apple Green
Cup Size: 16 ounces (0.47 liters)
Cup Weight: 6.2 ounces (175 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe apple green cups made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved shape of the cup makes all the difference. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Apple Green Cups are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The cups are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Green 16-ounce (0.47 liter) cups
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Braille for improved accessibility
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of cup
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Newsprint
Shipping Weight: 3 ounces (85 grams)
Pencil Size: 7 inches (17.8 cm)
Description: Ten (10)-pack of beautiful, long-lasting newsprint #2/2B pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper, tightly rolled around high-quality graphite; pencils sharpen easily, write better, and do not break easily; last 2-3 times as long as a wood pencil
Manufacturer: O'BON

Make a Choice: Many of today's pencils break easily, sharpen poorly and cause an occasional blister. O'BON's 100% Recycled Newspaper Pencils are made entirely of tightly rolled recycled newspaper, which protects high-quality graphite. These eraserless #2/2B pencils last 2-3 times as long as traditional wood pencils. They are easy to sharpen and have a surprise inside. Ask a child to sharpen an O'BON pencil and enjoy the "oohs" and "aahs" of excitement and interest as old newspaper unfurls. Each pencil features its own unique newsprint design. All O'BON pencils are non-toxic, safe for the most obsessive pencil chewers.

For over 400 years, manufacturers have made the pencil the same way. They surround graphite in a grooved wood casing that almost always has an air pocket between the two materials. That air pocket allows the graphite to vibrate when the pencil is dropped or tapped repeatedly, often causing the graphite to chip or break inside the pencil. When the pencil is sharpened, the user often sharpens and resharpens the pencil until he finds unbroken graphite, at which point he has often sharpened away a big chunk of the pencil.

The O'BON newspaper pencil story is as follows:



First, old newspaper is flattened, cut to the right width, and given a bath in water-based glue. We wrap each newspaper 48 times around graphite. We air dry it. We heat it. And then, after cooling, the newspaper hardens without any air pockets around the graphite. Without the air pocket, the graphite is nearly impossible to break. Drop them, flip them or bang them, and it will not make a difference. They are shock-resistant and 3 times as strong as a wood pencil. They sharpen perfectly every time, and they last 2-3 times as long as a wood pencil. Not a Sacrifice: "The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year." See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/ materials/paper/faqs.htm. Globally the deforestation challenges on Earth are many, controversial, and range from the alarming to the catastrophic. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation. People need pencils. Invented in the late 18^th century, they have served the human race well. But, as ForestEthics recently reported, many manufacturers of wood pencils do not offer pencils certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global non-profit organization created to improve sustainable forestry worldwide. Many top pencil makers offer no pencils with post-consumer recycled or FSC-certified lumber, which means, at a minimum they are likely clear-cutting forests with little regard to sustainability. See http://www.forestethics.org/downloads/ backtoschool.pdf.

Our O'BON pencils perform better than wood pencils. They require no sacrifice. They have a low carbon footprint, use a renewable energy source, and make excellent green gifts.

Feature List

• Ten (10) eraserless #2/2B pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper
• Each pencil includes a unique newsprint design
• Superior graphite protection makes our 7-inch (17.8 cm) pencils last 2-3 times as long as wood pencils
• Pencil sharpening unfurls old newspaper 

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Bamboo
Description: Messenger bag with bamboo design made from 100% recycled 600D polyester and plastic; 3% of gross sales contributed to the WILD Foundation
Dimensions: 12 inches/30.5 cm (h) x 18 inches/45.7 cm (w) x 5.5 inches/14.0 cm (d)
Manufacturer: Instinctive Bags and Backpacks

Make a Choice: Made from 100% recycled 600D polyester main body fabric, 100% recycled polyester webbing, and 100% recycled plastic buckles, the Recycled Polyester and Plastic Bamboo Messenger Bag from Instinctive Bags and Backpacks (also known as Motive Collective LLC) is one of the most eco-friendly on Earth. It has a rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating on the underside of the body fabric. Three percent (3%) of all Messenger Bag gross sales are contributed to The WILD Foundation (http://www.wild.org ), the only international organization dedicated entirely and explicitly to wilderness protection around the world. Motive Collective also offers a Lifetime Takeback Policy. If at any time, you are ready to stop using your Messenger Bag, simply ship it directly to the company(email takeback@motivecollective.com for detailed instructions). Motive Collective will repair your old bag as necessary and donate it to someone who needs it; you will receive ANY in stock bag, tote, or backpack for 10% off wholesale cost plus shipping. This is an unlimited service, but certain time restrictions may apply.

Not a Sacrifice: "Polyester is the most widely used manufactured fiber and is made from petroleum. Demand has nearly doubled globally in the last 15 years. Making it is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil. Emissions during manufacturing include volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, all of which may cause or aggravate respiratory disease." See Claudio L 2007. Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry. Environmental Health Perspectives 115:A449-A454. doi:10.1289/ehp.115-a449 at http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.115-a449 . Most polyester is not biodegradable, although that is changing slowly with new polyesters now on the market. Recycled polyester lowers our dependence on oil and creates less contamination. The Recycled Polyester and Plastic Bamboo Messenger Bag does not require a sacrifice in function. It offers the same or better features as new polyester messenger bags, is eco-friendly, and will last for years. It makes a great green gift for kids or adults for office, home, or school.

Feature List

• Large main compartments
• Padded laptop sleeve
• Ergonomic back panel & shoulder strap pad
• Quick access front pocket
• Organizer / slide pockets
• Premium YKK Zippers
• 100% Recycled 600D Polyester Main Body Fabric
• 100% Recycled Polyester Webbing
• 100% Recycled Plastic Buckles
• Rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating
• Lifetime Takeback Policy
• Manufactured in a Fair Labor Association and Social Accountability International approved factory

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Peanut M&Ms
Size: 11.82" x 1.18" x 9.84" (30.02 cm x 2.99 cm x 24.99 cm)
Description: Made from unwanted rolls of Peanut M&M's candy boxes and bags, these upcycled, lightweight, battery-free portable speakers offer sweet sound for your iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, CD player, laptop, or computer.
Manufacturer: TerraCycle

Make a Choice: TerraCycle has created upcycled, battery-free, portable eco-speakers out of excess, unwanted Peanut M&M's packaging. The speakers come with a 3.5mm Universal Plug for your iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, CD Player, laptop computer, etc. The speakers are made with up to 80% recycled materials and packaged with sustainability and conservation in mind.

TerraCycle is in the business of Upcycling, making affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. The process of upcycling converts useless products or disposed-of waste into new products of better quality or or higher environmental value. TerraCycle takes previously utilized printed circuit boards, juice pouches, candy wrappers, vinyl records and more and turns them into clocks, MP3 speakers, backpacks and picture frames.

Not a Sacrifice: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day, or a total of 29 pounds (13 kg) per week and 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year. This number does not include industrial waste or commercial trash.

Trash is a pervasive but unnoticed part of our lives. The great irony of waste management is that even the most efficient and well-run waste collection programs remain out of sight, ignored by the public that they serve. Today, many nations face a looming waste management crisis, as their landfills reach capacity and continue to degrade the environment. Waste management is linked to environmental quality in general, and climate change in particular. As paper, food, and other biodegradable waste breaks down in landfills, large amounts of methane are released. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is nearly 70 times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide (CO2). Other heat-trapping gasses like nitrous oxide (nearly 300 times more powerful than CO2) are emitted when plastics and textiles are burned in incinerators. And more CO2 is emitted during the collection and transportation of waste to processing sites at landfills and incinerators.

Waste management also has a significant impact on human health. Chemicals from degrading waste can leak into aquifers and contaminate water supplies. Landfills and older incinerators can also release harmful dioxins, a cancer-causing carcinogen; air pollutants like NOx and SOx, which make up acid rain; and other kinds of particulate matter, which can cause respiratory illnesses. Landfills also provide shelter for disease-carrying agents like rats, flies, and other vermin.

TerraCycle Peanut M&M's Upcycled Portable MP3 Speakers offer battery-free sweet sound in unwanted Peanut M&M's candy packaging. They are eco-friendly and make for a contemporary green gift.

Feature List

• Includes 3.5 mm Universal Plug for iPod, iPhone, CD Player, MP3 player, laptop computer, etc.
• Battery-free
• Design: Peanut M&M's packaging
• Diameter: 57 mm
• Dimension: 8±15% ohm
• Rated impedance: 1W
• Max power input: 2W
• Resonant Frequency: 400±20% Hz
• Packed and shipped flat to reduce pollution
• Speakers with up to 80% recycled materials

Ships in 5-7 Days

Designs: Green Vertical Stripe
Weight: 0.7 ounces
Size: 7 x 8 inches (17.8 x 20.3 cm)
Description: Buy any four food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable submarine bags made from thick European cotton fabric and receive the fifth one for free; hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: LunchSkins

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Submarine Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 7 x 8 inch pouch is designed to hold a traditional submarine sandwich, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic sandwich bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 7 x 8 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Red and White Sugarcane Signature
Shipping Weight: 14 ounces (397 grams)
Paper Size: A4 (Letter) - 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 x 27.9 cm)
Description: Smooth, bright, high-quality white A4 paper college rule spiral notebook made from sugarcane pulp with red "Sugarcane" written in soy-based ink vertically across the recycled card stock cover
Manufacturer: O'BON

Make a Choice: Most recycled paper is grainy, rough and dull in color. O'BON notebooks, on the other hand, offer a strong, smooth, bright, high-quality white sugarcane paper over which your pen will glide effortlessly. Particularly unique to our eco-friendly spiral notebooksis the smooth writing surface, typically a trademark of paper made from trees. Writing on our paper is clean and easy no matter what your pen preference is. The paper will not bleed through when writing with more inky, fountain pens, a true test of the durability of sugarcane pulp. O'BON notebooks are remarkably unique considering the paper is made from sugarcane pulp or "bagasse". Bagasse refers to the sugarcane fibers remaining after the juices have been extracted and is the central ingredient in O'BON paper. We transform these fibers into a rich, high quality paper that is far more environmentally friendly than using wood. The sugarcane paper story is as follows:



First, sugarcane is grown and extracted. Sugarcane grows very quickly and uses up minimal resources. After being transported to sugar-producing factories, the sugarcane is crushed to collect juices used in the process of producing sugar. The remaining pulp is usually discarded as a waste product and is sometimes even burned. In our case, however, we collect this remaining fiber, called "bagasse" and roll it into sheets of paper. The beauty of O'BON notebooks is they are essentially produced from a manufacturing byproduct that would otherwise serve no purpose. The sugarcane paper is bound together by an aluminum spiral and protected by recycled card stock covers to create a classy spiral notebook. To complete the amazing product, soy-based inks are used to print out the gorgeous, colorful designs.

Not a Sacrifice: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, "[p]aper is the most prevalent material in municipal solid waste (MSW) - more commonly known as trash or garbage, and as a result, paper recycling can help us reduce the amount of MSW." See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ paper/index.htm. "The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year." See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ paper/faqs.htm. Globally the deforestation challenges on Earth are many, controversial, and range from the alarming to the catastrophic. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation.

Sugarcane paper saves trees. It does not require you to sacrifice using paper. Our Large Red Signature Sugarcane Paper College Rule Spiral Notebook has a low carbon footprint, uses a renewable energy source, and makes an excellent green gift.

Feature List

• 80 pages of smooth, bright, high-quality, white sugarcane paper
• Size A4 (Letter) - 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 x 27.9 cm)
• Non-toxic
• College Rule
• Recycled card stock cover with blue "Sugarcane" written vertically in soy-based ink
• Aluminum spiral binding

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Yellow Bananas
Weight: 0.5 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 6.5 inches (16.5 x 16.5 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable sandwich bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Sandwich Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 6 inch pouch is designed to hold a traditional sandwich, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic sandwich bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 6.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Yellow Bananas Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Aqua Dots
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Aqua Dots Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Yellow Stripes
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Yellow Stripes Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Apple Green
Bowl Size: 16 ounces (0.47 liters)
Weight: 7.2 ounces (203 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe apple green bowls made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved shape of the bowl makes all the difference. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Apple Green Bowls are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The bowls are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic bowl, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Apple Green 16-ounce (0.47 liter) bowls
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Weighted for stability and resistance to spills
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of bowl
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Apple Green
Plate Size: 9.5 inches (24.1 cm)
Weight: 11.9 ounces (338 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe apple green plates made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved shape of the plate makes all the difference. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Apple Green Plates are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The plates are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic plates, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Apple Green 9.5 inches (24.1 cm) plates
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Weighted for stability and resistance to spills
• Textured to conceal knife marks
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Braille for improved accessibility
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of plate
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Apple Green
Plate Size: 9.5 inches (24.1 cm)
Plate Weight: 11.9 ounces (338 grams)
Bowl Size: 16 ounces (0.47 liters)
Bowl Weight: 7.2 ounces (203 grams)
Cup Size: 16 ounces (0.47 liters)
Cup Weight: 6.2 ounces (175 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe apple green cups, four (4) dishwaster-safe apple green plates, and four (4) dishwasher-safe apple green bowls made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Review: "The textured surface on these was a great idea! Of course now that I think of it, we do get rid of dishes whenever they get all scratched up and beat up looking. Sometimes they are not even that old, but with a bunch of teenagers and kids throwing these in the sink and dishwasher with all the knives and forks on top of them it's hard for anything to last. Also check out the cute design, we really like the handle like sides that help you get a good grip on your full plate. The cups are a really good size, big enough to get a nice amount of drink but not so big that they are overwhelming for the little hands. We use them for both grownups and the kids.

Perfect for everyday use and perfect for eating while on the couch like I do while I am working on here. Nice and casual but pretty enough to set a nice table like in this picture of the red pepper set which I would love to have next. And now we feel very good that we are starting to bring more eco-friendly products to our kitchen and into our lives."

Read the rest of the review at Sammy Makes Six blog

"I love my new Preserve Recycled Plastic Tableware Pack! It makes me really happy when I quality, eco-friendly products because they make going green so enjoyable. These products are durable and best of all, they are dishwasher-safe which is a must in my house. I also love the handle on the side of the plates because it saves me from burning my hand when I'm serving hot food."

Read the rest of the review at Readaholic

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved shape of the bowl makes all the difference. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Apple Green Plates, Bowls and Cups are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. They are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic bowl, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Apple Green 16-ounce (0.47 liter) cups
• Four (4) Apple Green 16-ounce (0.47 liter) bowls
• Four (4) Apple Green 9.5 inches (21.1 cm) plates
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Weighted for stability and resistance to spills
• Textured to conceal knife marks
• Braille for improved accessibility
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of plates and cups

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Berry Red
Size: 1/4 cup (62.5 ml), 1/3 cup (83.3 ml), 1/2 cup (125 ml), and 1 cup (250 ml)
Weight: 5.3 oz. (151 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe berry red dry measuring cups made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic; cup handles snap together for easy storage
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved bottom of the measuring cup makes all the difference when releasing ingredients. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Berry Red Dry Measuring Cups are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The cups are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Berry Red dry measuring cups: 1/4 cup (62.5 ml), 1/3 cup (83.3 ml), 1/2 cup (125 ml), and 1 cup (250 ml)
• Cups handles snap together for storage as a single unit
• Curved bottom for easy release of ingredients
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of cup
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Apple Green
Size: 14 x 11 inches (35.6 x. 27.9 cm)
Weight: 1 pound, 14.5 ounces (864 grams)
Description: Heavy duty, dishwasher-safe apple green large cutting board made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make cutting boards, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability. For example, the curved handle keeps the board stable during chopping and makes food transfer from board to bowl easy. Preserve added texture to the cutting board to hide knife marks, the #1 reason people throw out cutting boards. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse them forever. They tested and re-tested them to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Large Apple Green Cutting Board is dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The cutting board is as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• One (1) Apple Green 14 x 11 inches (35.6 x. 27.9 cm) cutting board
• Curved handle to make food transfer easy and to keep the board stable during chopping
• Knife-friendly, textured surface
• Safe and durable
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Milk White
Size: 14 x 11 inches (35.6 x. 27.9 cm)
Weight: 1 pound, 14.5 ounces (864 grams)
Description: Heavy duty, dishwasher-safe milk white large cutting board made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make cutting boards, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability. For example, the curved handle keeps the board stable during chopping and makes food transfer from board to bowl easy. Preserve added texture to the cutting board to hide knife marks, the #1 reason people throw out cutting boards. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse them forever. They tested and re-tested them to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Large Milk White Cutting Board is dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The cutting board is as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• One (1) Milk White 14 x 11 inches (35.6 x. 27.9 cm) cutting board
• Curved handle to make food transfer easy and to keep the board stable during chopping
• Knife-friendly, textured surface
• Safe and durable
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Midnight Blue
Cup Size: 16 ounces (0.47 liters)
Cup Weight: 6.2 ounces (175 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe midnight blue cups made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved shape of the cup makes all the difference. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Midnight Blue Cups are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The cups are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Midnight Blue 16-ounce (0.47 liter) cups
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Braille for improved accessibility
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of cup
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Midnight Blue
Plate Size: 9.5 inches (24.1 cm)
Weight: 11.9 ounces (338 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe midnight blue plates made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved shape of the plate makes all the difference. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Midnight Blue Plates are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The plates are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic plates, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Midnight Blue 9.5 inches (24.1 cm) plates
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Weighted for stability and resistance to spills
• Textured to conceal knife marks
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Braille for improved accessibility
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of plate
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Apple Green, Berry Blue, and Ripe Tomato
Size: 2 quarts (1.9 liters), 3 quarts (2.8 liters), and 4 quarts (3.8 liters)
Weight: 1 lb., 15.9 oz. (906 grams)
Description: Heavy duty, dishwasher-safe mixing bowls made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Review: "...They have an easy-to-grip handle and a spout for pouring batter and sauces. What I love about these mixing bowls aside from the fact that they are made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free and melamine-free #5 plastic, is that they are VERY sturdy and durable as well as dishwasher-safe. The colors are very vibrant and the bowl surface is pretty wide for easy mixing. They also stack nicely within each other which makes storage easy without taking up a lot of space. These mixing bowls have definitely become my go to mixing bowls for all my baking and cooking needs."

Read the rest of the review at Blissful-Reviews

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make mixing bowls, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Heavy-duty material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability. For example, the easy-to-grip handles and funnel spouts make stirring, mashing, and pouring a snap. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse them forever. They tested and re-tested them to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Multi-Colored Mixing Bowls are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. These mixing bowls are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable mixing bowls, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• One (1) Ripe Tomato 2 quart (1.9 liters) mixing bowl
• One (1) Berry Blue 3 quart (2.8 liters) mixing bowl
• One (1) Apple Green 4 quart (3.8 liters) mixing bowl
• Easy-to-grip handles
• Wide bowls for easy mixing
• Spout for pouring batter and sauces
• Sturdy and durable
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Violet Feather
Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (323 grams)
Size: 10 x 11.5 inches (25.4 x 29.2 cm)
Description: One inch, heavy duty, recycled cardboard, 3-ring binder with high-resolution violet-colored feathers printed in soy-based ink
Manufacturer: O'BON

Make a Choice: Made from durable recycled cardboard, O'BON's Birds Series One-Inch Binders feature elegant, high-resolution designs of exotic bird feathers printed in soy-based ink. These binders provide a superior, eco-friendly solution to common vinyl binders. Our binders hold any standard 3-hole punch paper and have a heavy duty, 3-ring construction.

Not a Sacrifice: Traditional binders are made of multiple pieces of vinyl and PVC, some of the most environmentally harmful plastics in the world. Sealed together with a heat press, the assembly of traditional binders makes recycling difficult. Most vinyl binders end up in landfills, which when burned in accidental landfill fires, release toxic dioxins. "Currently, the uncontrolled burning of residential waste is thought to be the largest source of dioxins to the environment of the United States. While the United States has taken action to control this type of emission, some of these sources of dioxin - [medical and municipal waste incineration] - may occur elsewhere in the world." http://www.fda.gov/Food/Food Safety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/Chemical Contaminants/DioxinsPCBs/ucm077524.htm

Using binders to organize your papers and notes is a common sense approach to doing work. Using recycled cardboard binders is also a common sense approach that does not require a sacrifice. Our Recycled Cardboard Crimson Feather One-Inch Binder has a low carbon footprint, uses a renewable energy source, and makes an excellent green gift.

Feature List

• Heavy duty 3-ring construction
• Non-toxic
• Holds any standard 3-hole punch paper
• Recycled, eco-friendly cardboard
• Blank label field on outside of binder for name, subject, date, etc.
• High-resolution crimson-colored feathers printed in soy-based ink

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Kiwi
Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (113 grams)
Paper Size: A6 - 4.1 x 5.75 inches (10.4 x 14.6 cm)
Description: Smooth, bright, high-quality white A6 paper college rule journal made from sugarcane pulp with textured, feels-like-real kiwi printed in soy-based ink on the recycled card stock cover
Manufacturer: O'BON

Make a Choice: Most recycled paper is grainy, rough and dull in color. O'BON journals, on the other hand, offer a strong, smooth, bright, high-quality white sugarcane paper over which your pen will glide effortlessly. Particularly unique to our eco-friendly journals is the smooth writing surface, typically a trademark of paper made from trees. Writing on our paper is clean and easy no matter what your pen preference is. The paper will not bleed through when writing with more inky, fountain pens, a true test of the durability of sugarcane pulp. O'BON journals are remarkably unique considering the paper is made from sugarcane pulp or "bagasse". Bagasse refers to the sugarcane fibers remaining after the juices have been extracted and is the central ingredient in O'BON paper. We transform these fibers into a rich, high quality paper that is far more environmentally friendly than using wood. The sugarcane paper story is as follows:



First, sugarcane is grown and extracted. Sugarcane grows very quickly and uses up minimal resources. After being transported to sugar-producing factories, the sugarcane is crushed to collect juices used in the process of producing sugar. The remaining pulp is usually discarded as a waste product and is sometimes even burned. In our case, however, we collect this remaining fiber, called "bagasse" and roll it into sheets of paper. The beauty of O'BON notebooks is they are essentially produced from a manufacturing byproduct that would otherwise serve no purpose. The sugarcane paper is bound together by an aluminum spiral and protected by recycled card stock covers to create a classy journal. To complete the amazing product, soy-based inks are used to print out the gorgeous, colorful designs.

Not a Sacrifice: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, "[p]aper is the most prevalent material in municipal solid waste (MSW) - more commonly known as trash or garbage, and as a result, paper recycling can help us reduce the amount of MSW." See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/paper/index.htm. "The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year." See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/paper/faqs.htm. Globally the deforestation challenges on Earth are many, controversial, and range from the alarming to the catastrophic. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation.

Sugarcane paper saves trees. It does not require you to sacrifice using paper. Our Small Feels-Like-Real-Kiwi Sugarcane Paper College Rule Journal has a low carbon footprint, uses a renewable energy source, and makes an excellent green gift.

Feature List

• 80 pages of smooth, bright, high-quality, white sugarcane paper
• Size A6 - 4.1 x 5.75 inches (10.4 x 14.6 cm)
• Non-toxic
• College Rule
• Blank date and page fields in upper right-hand corner of each page
• Recycled card stock cover with red "Sugarcane" written vertically in soy-based ink
• Aluminum spiral binding

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Hand-painted in shades of green by Trenton, New Jersey artists
Size: 11 inches (27.94 cm)
Weight: 4 lbs
Description: This 11-inch, nearly indestructible, trash can is constructed of crushed computers, fax machines, printers, and other recycled electronic waste. Each unique trash can was hand-painted by inner-city artists in Trenton, New Jersey.
Manufacturer: TerraCycle

Make a Choice: TerraCycle is in the business of Upcycling, making affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. The process of upcycling converts useless products or disposed-of waste into new products of better quality or or higher environmental value. TerraCycle takes previously utilized printed circuit boards, juice pouches, vinyl records and more and turns them into clocks, backpacks and picture frames.

Not a Sacrifice: Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the United States with almost 2.5 million tons winding up in landfills each year. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Statistics on the Management of Used and End-of-Life Electronics, and a paper called "Electonics Waste Management in the United States," only 18 percent of the electronic products ready for End of Life (EOL) management is recycled. In 1999, 1,052,000 tons of electronic waste were produced in the United States; 8 years later, that number has more than doubled to 2,251,000 tons. When not properly disposed of, electronic waste can leak harmful toxins into the environment.

The TerraCycle Crushed Electronics Trash Can keeps a few of those old electronics from reaching a landfill. Useful and eco-friendly, this trash can makes for a practical green gift.

Feature List

• 11 inches (27.94 cm)
• Design: Shades of green, hand-painted by inner-city Trenton, New Jersey artists
• Each trash can is unique

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: A variety of Juice Pouches - Kool-Aid Jammers and Capri Sun
Size: 9" wide (22.86 cm) x 4.25" (10.80 cm) deep x 5.75" (14.61cm) high
Description: Carry your juice pouches and lunch in lunch box made upcycled juice pouches
Manufacturer: TerraCycle

Make a Choice: TerraCycle makes this lunch box from waste drink pouch material. Every year, billions of drink pouches end up in dumpsters and landfills across America. Working with a brigade of school volunteers, TerraCycle diverts tons of waste juice pouches annually and donates 2 cents ($0.02) to a charity or non-profit for each pouch collected. The color of each lunch box will vary depending on the type of drink pouch used.

TerraCycle is in the business of Upcycling, making affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. The process of upcycling converts useless products or disposed-of waste into new products of better quality or or higher environmental value. TerraCycle takes previously utilized printed circuit boards, juice pouches, vinyl records and more and turns them into clocks, backpacks and picture frames.

Not a Sacrifice: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day, or a total of 29 pounds (13 kg) per week and 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year. This number does not include industrial waste or commercial trash.

Trash is a pervasive but unnoticed part of our lives. The great irony of waste management is that even the most efficient and well-run waste collection programs remain out of sight, ignored by the public that they serve. Today, many nations face a looming waste management crisis, as their landfills reach capacity and continue to degrade the environment. Waste management is linked to environmental quality in general, and climate change in particular. As paper, food, and other biodegradable waste breaks down in landfills, large amounts of methane are released. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is nearly 70 times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide (CO2). Other heat-trapping gasses like nitrous oxide (nearly 300 times more powerful than CO2) are emitted when plastics and textiles are burned in incinerators. And more CO2 is emitted during the collection and transportation of waste to processing sites at landfills and incinerators.

Waste management also has a significant impact on human health. Chemicals from degrading waste can leak into aquifers and contaminate water supplies. Landfills and older incinerators can also release harmful dioxins, a cancer-causing carcinogen; air pollutants like NOx and SOx, which make up acid rain; and other kinds of particulate matter, which can cause respiratory illnesses. Landfills also provide shelter for disease-carrying agents like rats, flies, and other vermin.

The TerraCycle Drink Pouch Lunch Box gives a few of the billions of single-use juice pouches another life as a durable, eco-friendly lunch box. It makes a cool green gift.

Feature List

• Design: Royal blue liner with Capri Sun and Kool-Aid Jammers drink pouches
• Size: 9" wide (22.86 cm) x 4.25" (10.80 cm) deep x 5.75" (14.61cm) high
• Two reinforced straps for carrying
• Easily opens with zipper around 3 sides

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Ivory and Light Green
Size: 14 x 9 x 9.5 inches (35.6 x 22.9 x 24.1 cm)
Description: Save $5.00 by purchasing three (3) Heavy duty, washable, collapsible, 100% cotton canvas reusable bags for groceries and household goods – normally $57.00
Manufacturer: Envicorp Products

Make a Choice: For years, people have used plastic bags to carry their purchases when they go to the store. Recently, some have switched to thin reusable bags to reduce their plastic usage, but they sacrifice function as groceries or household goods are often crushed. The Envitote provides a better solution. 100% cotton canvas, this reusable grocery tote provides lots of room for purchases. It has three removable wall stiffeners - two on the side and one on its base - to add all the support necessary to avoid an accidental smash. Washable and collapsible, it has an adjustable strap and side handles. Owners carry the Envitote every time they leave the house.

Not a Sacrifice: The average family in the United States uses 1,460 plastic bags a year. Globally, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used each year (usually once), and less than 1% of those bags are currently recycled. 60-80% of all marine debris and 90% of all floating debris is plastic. In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high-quality reusable Envitote has the potential to eliminate an average of 300 plastic bags each year. They perform better than alternative plastic bags and thin reusable bags; they protect your purchases. Durable and eco-friendly, the Envitote makes a great green gift.

Feature List

• Three (3) Envitotes for $52.00; save $5.00 (normally $57.00)
• 100% cotton canvas
• Roomy - 14 x 9 x 9.5 inches (35.6 x 22.9 x 24.1 cm)
• Washable
• Adjustable straps
• Side handles
• Three removable wall stiffeners - two on the side and one on its base - to avoid crushing purchases
• Reduces consumer plastic bag waste

Ships in 1-3 Days

Case Color: Forest Green
Weight: 1.7 ounces (48.2 grams)
Size: 1.6 x 8.25 inches (4.1 x 21.0 cm)
Description: Reduce your forkprint with a set of durable, dishwasher-safe bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - wrapped in a case made of recycled plastic bags and newspaper collected by ragpickers in New Delhi, India
Manufacturer: To-Go

Make a Choice: Most people use a travel mug. Many are moving to reusable shopping bags and totes. The next evolution for all of us will be to carry our own set of utensils. To-Go Ware has made this set of heat-resistant, stain-resistant, lightweight bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - to prepare for the coming carry-your-own-utensil movement. Dishwasher-safe, the utensils fit in a forest green case crafted by CONSERVE, an NGO (non-governmental organization) Project in New Delhi, India that employs ragpickers to collect discarded plastic bags and newspapers and repurpose them into products like these.

Every day, at dawn, CONSERVE employees deliver plastic shopping bags and newspapers they've collected off the streets of New Delhi to the CONSERVE headquarters. The handles and bottoms of the plastic bags are snipped away and the open sheets washed with detergent on a cemented buffalo water trough. They are hung to dry on a clothesline, layered together, and pressed to make sheets that are designed, cut and stitched to make amazing, durable, environmentally friendly, recycled plastic products. Employees combine the recycled plastic with newspapers to construct the case; often, our customers are able to read the original newspaper copy. All To-Go Ware partners are regularly monitored for human rights and environmental abuses by an independent third party monitor, in addition to a supplemental audit we've added with some additional standards we feel are important. We are proud of the protections provided by all of our partners to their employees and the Earth.

Bamboo is durable, stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Our bamboo utensils are made in China by a small cottage industry factory that a third-party auditor has ensured uses fair labor practices and sources from a controlled, sustainable bamboo forest.

Each spoon, fork, knife, and chopstick is made from a single sheet of bamboo without the use of glue. Bamboo is naturally more water-resistant than wood and does not stain easily. To-Go-Ware has increased their durability by sealing each utensil with a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant made of Potassium Permanganate (a water-soluble salt often used as a disinfectant), Acetic Acid (an organic, relatively weak acid found universally in food, water, and soil), Heptane (most frequently used as oil repellant, distilled from the resin of the Jeffery Pine and the fruit of the Petroleum Nut Tree), and Ethanol (sugar-based and the most commonly used form of alcohol). Recent lab tests have shown that no heavy metals were detected in the sealant, including lead, arsenic, mercury, or chromium.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic utensils, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, many of these plastic forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastic utensils. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set in CONSERVE Case is dishwasher-safe, durable, and 100% biodegradable. The fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks are as functional as any plastic utensil, enable you to eat on the go, make a great green gift, and they come without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to your health.

Feature List

• One (1) bamboo fork, one (1) bamboo knife, one (1) bamboo spoon, and one (1) set of bamboo chopsticks
• Dishwasher-safe utensils
• Hand-finished with top grade, natural, food-safe wood oil
• One (1) forest green, washable case made from recycled plastic bags and newspaper
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% biodegradable

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Pumpkin
Weight: 1.7 ounces (48.2 grams)
Size: 1.6 x 8.25 inches (4.1 x 21.0 cm)
Description: Reduce your forkprint with a set of durable, dishwasher-safe bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - bundled in a Pumpkin-colored case made of recycled PET plastic
Manufacturer: To-Go

Review: "...The set includes a bamboo fork, spoon, knife, and a set of chopsticks in a handy little carrying case. All of the utensils are dishwasher safe, stain resistant, and heat resistant. It makes my life so much easier when I can just throw it in the dishwasher and not worry about it!

Eric has found this set fantastic for work. It fits easily in his lunchbox and the carrying case keeps all the utensils together and easy to find. One of the things he likes best about them is how durable and strong they are. Plastic utensils can always be so difficult to use, the fork won't pierce the food or the knife simply isn't strong enough to cut. But that's not the case with these, they easily do both. Not to mention how beautiful they are. I love the color of the bamboo and the design of the utensils. Eric has gotten many compliments from co-workers on how they are not only beautiful but also unique and practical."

Read the rest of the review at From Chalkboards To Strollers Blog

"Well I am loving this utensil set. It is perfect. I am typically to far away from home when out working during the day to come home for lunch. I also don't always have the extra money to stop and grab something to eat while I am out working. Until now I never had a way to make myself a salad to take with me. Well I did but it really got to be a pain keeping track of my utensils and such. So this set is awesome for this. It comes in this handy little carrying case so I can just toss the whole thing in my lunch bag and not have to worry about searching all over for them when I am ready to eat (in my car usually lol). They are really durable and the perfect size. I wasn't to sure how the knife would work as I have never used a bamboo knife before but it works great!! I am completely satisfied with this set.

Read the rest of the review at Miracle Momas Blog

Make a Choice: Most people use a travel mug. Many are moving to reusable shopping bags and totes. The next evolution for all of us will be to carry our own set of utensils. To-Go Ware has made this set of heat-resistant, stain-resistant, lightweight bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - to prepare for the coming carry-your-own-utensil movement. Dishwasher-safe, the utensils fit in a RePEaT case, made out of RPET (recycled PET plastic) that To-Go-Ware likes to call "RePEaT," because it reincarnates plastic. Recycled PET plastic comes from plastic tea, juice, soda and water bottles that would otherwise end up in a landfill. A handy carabiner hangs off of the back of each RePEaT case for easy transport.

Bamboo is durable, stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Our bamboo utensils are made in China by a small cottage industry factory that a third-party auditor has ensured uses fair labor practices and sources from a controlled, sustainable bamboo forest.

Each spoon, fork, knife, and chopstick is made from a single sheet of bamboo without the use of glue. Bamboo is naturally more water-resistant than wood and does not stain easily. To-Go-Ware has increased their durability by sealing each utensil with a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant made of Potassium Permanganate (a water-soluble salt often used as a disinfectant), Acetic Acid (an organic, relatively weak acid found universally in food, water, and soil), Heptane (most frequently used as oil repellant, distilled from the resin of the Jeffery Pine and the fruit of the Petroleum Nut Tree), and Ethanol (sugar-based and the most commonly used form of alcohol). Recent lab tests have shown that no heavy metals were detected in the sealant, including lead, arsenic, mercury, or chromium.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic utensils, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, many of these plastic forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastic utensils. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set in a Recycled Plastic Case is dishwasher-safe, durable, and 100% biodegradable. The fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks are as functional as any plastic utensil, enable you to eat on the go, make a great green gift, and they come without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to your health.

Feature List

• One (1) bamboo fork, one (1) bamboo knife, one (1) bamboo spoon, and one (1) set of bamboo chopsticks
• Hand-finished with top grade, natural, food-safe wood oil
• One (1) Pumpkin-colored case made from 100% recycled PET plastic (tea, juice, soda, and water bottles)
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% biodegradable

Ships in 1-3 Days

Weight: 4.6 ounces (131 grams)
Description: Kit includes adapter tips for many cell phones that may not be compatible with the charger included with many Wind 'N Go and SolaDyne products. Brands supported include Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, and the Apple iPhone. If these adapter tips do not work, plug your 12-volt adapter (your cell phone car charger typically) into your cell phone and into the included Universal DC Adapter, which attaches to the Wind ‘N Go or SolaDyne product.
Manufacturer: Wind ‘N Go and SolaDyne

The Wind 'N Go and SolaDyne Cell Phone Adapter Kit is compatible with the following cell phone models: NOKIA: 7250i / 6800/6610 / 6200 / 6100 / 5100 / 3650 / 3595 / 3586i / 3560 / 3520 / 3361 / 3300 / 2285 / 2270 / 2260 / 252 / 282 / 1260 / 2865i / 3155i / 5300 / 6085 / 6086 / 6101 / 6102 / 6102i / 6103 / 6111 / 6125 / 6126 / 6133 / 6136 / 6155i / 6165i / 6270 / 6275i / 6282 / 6300 / 6555 / 7360 / 7370 / E50 / E51 / E61 / E62 / E65 / E90 / N70 / N73 / N75 / N76 / N80 / N90 / N91 / N93 / N95

MOTOROLA: IC402 / IC502 / L2 / L6 / L7 / L7c / KRAZR K1 / K1m / PEBL U6 / MOTOKRZR / K1 / MOTOKRZR K1M / MOTORAZR V3R / MOTORAZR V3T / MOTORAZR / V3X / V3XX / MAXX3e / RIZR Z3 / MOTORIZR Z6tv / ROKR e2 / ROKR e6 / MOTOROKR z6m / MOTOSLVR L7C / MOTORAZR V3M / PEBL / RAZR V3 / RAZR V3C / RAZR V3I / RAZR V3M / V190 / V195 / V197 / V235 / V323 / V323i / V325 / V325i / V360 / V361 / W315 / W370 / W385 / W490 / XV 6700 / XV 6800 / Sprint PPC-6700 / Sprint PPC-6800 / Cingular 2125 / Cingular 8125 / Cingular 8525 / AT&T 8525 / Motorola Q / Q9c / Q9m / C290/120C / 120E/ 120T / A630 / A840 / A845 / C333/C331t (TDMA) / C332 / C341 / C343 / C353 (TDMA) / E310 / E815 / E816 / MPX220 / ROKR / T300p / T720 / T720g / T720i / T721 / T721g / T722i / T729c / T730c / T731 / V60 / V60c / V60g / V60i / V60p(PTT) / V60s / V60t / V60t Color / V60x / V66 / V70 / V120e / V120t / V260 / V300 / V302 / V330 / V360 / V400 / V5050 / V540 / V551 / V555 / V557 / V600 / V635 / V710 / V810 / Timeport 270c

SAMSUNG: SCH Models: A990 / R510 / U420 / U740; SGH Models: A707 / D807 / D820 / D900 / i607 / T219 / T329 / T509 / T509S / T519 / T629 / T809; SPH Models: A303 / A503 / A640 / M610; Other Models: BLACKJACK / M620 / STRIPE / SYNC / TRACE / UPSTAGE

APPLE: iPhone / iPod Nano 1G / iPod Nano 2G / iPod 5G / iPod 4G / iPod mini 3G

If your phone is not listed, and you have a 12-volt adapter for your mobile phone – your mobile phone car charger typically – this kit will still work. The kit includes a Universal DC Adapter that will plug into your 12-volt adapter and your Wind ‘N Go or SolaDyne product, allowing you to charge your mobile phone.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Blue
Weight: 8 ounces (227 grams)
Size: 2 x 6 inches (5.1 x 10.2 cm)
Description: The Freedom Shaver is a self-powered, rechargeable, 3-head rotary shaver that offers a full shave with one minute of winding

Manufacturer: Wind ‘N Go

Make a Choice: The Freedom Shaver by Wind ‘N Go offers you the freedom to shave when and where you want. It requires no replacement batteries and no electricity. Simply wind the hand crank for about a minute, recharge the lithium ion internal rechargeable battery, and give yourself a full shave. The three individual floating and rotating heads cut comfortable close. The Freedom Shaver also includes a pop-up trimmer on its back. Intended for dry shaving only, owners save $100-$200USD a year because they do not have to spend money on shaving creams, lotions, and replacement razor blades. The Freedom Shaver is ideal for on-the-go touch ups before an important meeting, camping, vacationing, business travel, home, or office use.

Not a Sacrifice: Disposable household batteries are estimated to account for more than 50% of the cadmium in the MSW and 88% of mercury in municipal solid waste (MSW) stream - our trash, despite the fact that cadmium was banned in electronics in 2004 in the European Union. Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency. The WWF recently endorsed a UNIROSS study in the UK that showed that rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on non-renewable natural resources as do disposable batteries. "In the UK, 660 million batteries are bought each year. 95 percent of these are disposable - cumulatively that's an enormous amount of batteries heading straight to landfill, releasing damaging chemicals into the environment. It's wasteful and unnecessary," says Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK. See http://www.uniross.com/consumer_html/enviroment.php. Our Freedom Shaver, a green gift that will last for years, liberates you from disposable batteries, replacement blades, shaving cream, lotions, and electricity. Owners will not sacrifice a good shave; they are only a few hand cranks away from a clean cut.

Feature List

• Three (3) ergonomic, floating and rotating heads
• Pop-up trimmer
• Cleaning brush
• Travel bag with mirror
• 12V car power adapter and 110V home power adapter in the event that electricity is available. You may recharge or operate the shaver directly when plugged into these power sources.
• Wind ‘N Go Freedom Shaver Instruction Manual
• Wind ‘N Go Freedom Shaver Product Data Sheet
• Compatible with Freedom Shaver Replacement Blades

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Silver
Weight: 5 ounces (142 grams)
Size: 2.0 x 5.5 inches (5.1 x 14.0 cm)
Description: Lightweight, super-bright, 3-LED silver flashlight is self-powered and recharges for an hour of light with one minute of winding
Manufacturer: Wind ‘N Go

Review: "... I knew a flashlight was a great thing to always have just in case. So I bought a bunch of flashlights and kept them around the house. But I didn't have to use them for so long that the batteries were dead by the time I needed to. How can you find new batteries in a pitch dark house? Well that's where the Wind and Go Flashlight has my undying love forever!

This little baby will stay lit for an hour with only a minute of winding! I love it already! Also, it can NEVER die!"

Read the rest of the review at Our Whiskey Lullaby Blog

Make a Choice: The Wind ‘N Go Silver Flashlight operates with 3 super-bright LEDs that never need replacing. The flashlight has two modes of operation – high (3 LEDs) and low (1 LED). It requires no disposable batteries and no electricity. Simply wind the hand crank for about a minute, recharge the lithium ion internal rechargeable battery, and the flashlight will operate 1 LED for approximately 1 hour and 3 LEDs for approximately 30 minutes. It also includes a Nokia phone adapter cable that, with a few cranks, will give you a few minutes of emergency cell phone battery life.

Not a Sacrifice: Disposable household batteries are estimated to account for more than 50% of the cadmium in the MSW and 88% of mercury in municipal solid waste (MSW) stream - our trash, despite the fact that cadmium was banned in electronics in 2004 in the European Union. Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency. The WWF recently endorsed a UNIROSS study in the UK that showed that rechargeable batteries have up to 32 times less impact on non-renewable natural resources as do disposable batteries. "In the UK, 660 million batteries are bought each year. 95 percent of these are disposable - cumulatively that's an enormous amount of batteries heading straight to landfill, releasing damaging chemicals into the environment. It's wasteful and unnecessary," says Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK. See http://www.uniross.com/consumer_html/enviroment.php. Our Wind ‘N Go Silver Flashlight liberates its owner from disposable batteries; no sacrifice is required. Always a few hand cranks away from enough power for a full hour of emergency lighting, it makes a great green gift for a purse, camping, fishing, travel, home, garage, office, and during power emergencies.

Feature List

• Three (3) 1/2-Watt LEDs
• Focused lens concentrates the beam of light
• 2 modes of operation - high (3 LEDs) and low (1 LED)
• Wrist Strap
• Cell Phone Charging Adapter (Nokia only)
• Compatible with Wind 'N Go and Soladyne Cell Phone Adapter Kit

Ships in 1-3 Days

Description: Heavy duty, dishwasher-safe kitchen starter set made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic. This 22-piece set includes four (4) plates, four (4) bowls, four (4) cups, three (3) mixing bowls, one (1) cutting board, one (1) colander, four (4) measuring cups and one (1) Envitote cotton canvas reusable bag.
Manufacturers: Preserve and Envitote

Ships in 1-3 Days

Description: Heavy duty, dishwasher-safe baking set made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic. The 9-piece set includes three (3) mixing bowls, one (1) cutting board, one (1) colander and four (4) measuring cups.
Manufacturer: Preserve

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Green
Weight: 2.1 ounces (60 grams)
Size: 4 square inches (10.2 cm square)
Description: Naturally attractive, 100% biodegradable, green bamboo coasters that will not bend, warp, swell, and prevents rings and wet-spots
Manufacturer: Arvee Corporation

Make a Choice: An ancient Chinese symbol of longevity and an India mark of friendship, Bamboo is a rare combination of strength and beauty. Ecoasters bring bamboo into your home in an environmentally, functional manner with a coaster that is durable, absorbs moisture, and will last longer than conventional drink coasters. Bamboo is stronger than oak and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and it takes in 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. ECoasters were made to last, look good, and replace the conventional paper and plastic coasters on the market.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic coasters, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, many of these coasters are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastic coasters. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A. Our green bamboo ECoasters are 100% biodegradable. They are functional and attractive as any conventional paper or plastic coaster. They are durable, eco-friendly, and make a great green gift, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to your health.

Feature List

• Six (6) 4-inch (102) green ECoasters
• 100% biodegradable
• Made from bamboo
• Will not bend, warp, or swell
• Vertical grain finish
• Sophisticated curve design
• Absors little moisture
• Prevents rings and spots
• Stylish design blends into any home environment

Ships in 1-3 Days

Weight: 3.2 ounces

Size: 4.8 x 1 x 8.8 inches (12.2 x 2.5 x 22.4 cm)

Description: This eco-friendly, 6 piece make-up set includes Blush Brush, Eye Shading Brush, Angled Eyeliner Brush, Concealer Brush, Lash & Brow Groomer in a Reusable Hemp & Cotton Storage Case with separate compartment for cosmetics and brushes.

Company: EcoTools

Make a Choice: The handle of each of the brushes in this set are constructed with bamboo. Bamboo is an extremely durable product that is stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.

Because bamboo is naturally water-resistant and durable it makes for a perfect handle for beauty items that are used daily.

Not a Sacrifice: Make-up brushes that contain plastic simply add more un-recyclable plastic to the growing "trash vortex". In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking this "trash vortex" which is the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers). This vortex, in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away."

What's more, many of these plastic pieces are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastics. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

The 6 piece EcoTools Bamboo Brush Set offers earth-friendly beauty made with natural and recycled materials without sacrificing quality. Give this green gift to yourself and others today.

Feature List

• 6 piece set includes Blush Brush, Eye Shading Brush, Angled Eyeliner Brush, Concealer Brush, Lash & Brow Groomer, in a Reusable Hemp & Cotton Storage Case with separate compartment for cosmetics and Brushes.
• Brush bristles are all synthetic taklon which is a cruelty free product
• Brush metal plating is made from recycled aluminum
• Reusable storage pouch is made from natural cotton and hemp
• In 2010 EcoTools was featured in magazines such as Health, People, InStyle, Redbook, Seventeen, Real Simple and more
• GUIDE ON HOW TO USE THE MAKE-UP BRUSHES:
Blush Brush
• Gently apply blush in an upward motion over cheek bones and blend edges.
Eye Shading Brush
• Apply a neutral shadow on the lid or crease and blend up and toward your brow bone.
Eyeliner Brush
• Dot along the lash line in short, connected strokes from the corner out.
• For brows, apply a small amount of shadow to brow to cover sparse or light areas.
Lash & Brow Groomer
• Use brush to give brows shape by brushing upward and out.
• Use comb to separate and lengthen lashes after applying mascara.
Concealer Brush
• Use brush tip to precisely apply concealer.
• Use the flat, fanned portion of the brush to blend.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Size: 18.4 x 2.7 x 1.5 inches (46.7 x 6.9 x 3.8 cm)

Weight: 8 ounces (226.7 grams)

Description: Earth-friendly bath brush constructed of renewable bamboo that offers a gentle cleansing with soft, cruelty-free bristles. The long bamboo handle extends to reach to all areas and includes a rope tie to hang in either the bath or shower.

Company: EcoTools

Make a Choice: Bamboo is durable, stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.

Bamboo is naturally more water-resistant than wood and does not stain easily making it a perfect product for the bath or shower.

Not a Sacrifice: Great looking skin all over takes more than just a little soap. Exfoliating is defined as the peeling off in flakes or scales of bark or dead skin. Gentle exfoliation on a weekly basis leads to smooth, glowing skin. We experience increased exfoliation when we get sunburned; our body naturally exfoliates the sunburned skin.

With soft bristles, this bath brush will remove dead skin cells that can't be seen by the human eye and leave your skin's surface clean and ready for new skin cells to regenerate. The best results can be achieved when you frequently exfoliate (several times per week). If possible, exfoliate after a sweat induced by exercise. Sweaty exercise opens your pores so your exfoliation is more effective.

The EcoTools Bamboo Bristle Bath Brush is an earth-friendly bath accessory that enables you to scrub clean and exfoliate all over. This tool is 100% natural and offers gentle cleansing for all over soft skin.

Feature List

• To Use: Wet brush and apply favorite soap or body wash to gently scrub hard-to-reach areas. Rinse and hang to air dry.
• Gentle cleansing
• Long bamboo handle extends your reach
• Synthetic nylon bristles are 100% cruelty-free
• Made with natural, sustainable bamboo
• Recycled paper hangtag for easy storage in the bath or shower
• 1% of Sales donated to 1% for the Planet

Ships in 1-3 Days

Weight: 4 ounces

Size: 0.8 x 5 x 7 inches (2 x 12.7 x 17.8 cm)

Description: 5 piece, earth-friendly, make-up set includes 4 brushes - Mineral Powder Brush, Concealer Brush, Eye Shading Brush and Baby Kabuki in a sturdy, washable Cosmetic Bag.

Company: EcoTools

Make a Choice: The handle of each of the brushes in this set are constructed with bamboo. Bamboo is an extremely durable product that is stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.

Because bamboo is naturally water-resistant and durable it makes for a perfect handle for beauty items that are used daily.

Not a Sacrifice: Make-up brushes that contain plastic simply add more un-recyclable plastic to the growing "trash vortex". In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking this "trash vortex" which is the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers). This vortex, in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away."

What's more, many of these plastic pieces are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastics. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

The 5 piece EcoTools Bamboo Brush Set offers earth-friendly beauty made with natural and recycled materials without sacrificing quality. This set is perfect for traveling or daily use.

Feature List

• 5 piece, earth-friendly, make-up set includes 4 brushes - Mineral Powder Brush, Concealer Brush, Eye Shading Brush and Baby Kabuki in a sturdy, washable Cosmetic Bag
• Brush bristles are all synthetic taklon which is a cruelty free product
• Brush handles constructed from bamboo, a highly sustainable plant
• Brush metal plating is made from recycled aluminum
• Reusable, washable cosmetic bag constructed of 55% hemp linen, 45% cotton
• EcoTools have recently been featured in magazines such as Health, People, InStyle, Redbook, Seventeen, Real Simple and more
• GUIDE ON HOW TO USE THE MAKE-UP BRUSHES:
Mineral Powder Brush
• Apply powder or mineral foundation all over face in a circular, buffing motion and work inward towards nose.
Concealer Brush
• Use with liquid or mineral powder concealer for more coverage on blemishes and under eyes.
Eye Shading Brush
• Expertly cut to apply and blend powder eye shadows.
Baby Kabuki
• Buff powder over areas that need more coverage.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Blue, Green and Orange
Weight: 1.1 pounds (499 grams)
Size: 8 x 7 x 10 inches (20.3 x 17.8 x 25.4 cm)
Ages: 18 months+
Description: Durable, dishwasher-safe bucket, shovel, rake, and sand castle mold made from 100% recycled, curbside-collected milk containers
Manufacturer: Green Toys

Make a Choice: The Recycled Milk Container 4-Piece Sand Play Set from Green Toys is dishwasher-safe and reuses 100% recycled milk containers collected curbside and sorted by local recycling companies. This durable toy, made to hand down to multiple generations of children, will last for years in the sand and is a great green gift. After some reprocessing of the milk containers, Green Toys creates clean #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the safest, cleanest plastics in the world. On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of these toys saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, and saves enough electricity to power a TV for three weeks or keep a laptop computer running for a month. SOURCE: US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency.

Not a Sacrifice: Most toys today are made from new, not recycled plastic. Every purchase of toys made from new plastic contributes to the mounting challenges with the substance that degrades slowly over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. What's more, most toys made of new plastic contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these toys. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Green Toys Recycled Milk Container 4-Piece Sand Play Set offers all of the fun of a sand play set made from new plastic, without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to the health of your kids.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Ivory and Light Green
Size: 14 x 9 x 9.5 inches (35.6 x 22.9 x 24.1 cm)
Description: Lead free solution for your groceries! Heavy duty, washable, collapsible, 100% cotton canvas reusable bag for groceries and household goods
Manufacturer: Envicorp Products
Need more than one? Get a discount on 3!

Make a Choice: For years, people have used plastic bags to carry their purchases when they go to the store. Recently, some have switched to thin reusable bags to reduce their plastic usage, but they sacrifice function as groceries or household goods are often crushed. The Envitote provides a better solution. 100% cotton canvas, this reusable grocery tote provides lots of room for purchases. It has three removable wall stiffeners - two on the side and one on its base - to add all the support necessary to avoid an accidental smash. Washable and collapsible, it has an adjustable strap and side handles. Owners carry the Envitote every time they leave the house.

Not a Sacrifice: The average family in the United States uses 1,460 plastic bags a year. Globally, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used each year (usually once), and less than 1% of those bags are currently recycled. 60-80% of all marine debris and 90% of all floating debris is plastic. In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high-quality reusable Envitote has the potential to eliminate an average of 300 plastic bags each year. They perform better than alternative plastic bags and thin reusable bags; they protect your purchases. Durable and eco-friendly, the Envitote makes a great green gift.

Feature List

• 100% cotton canvas
• Roomy - 14 x 9 x 9.5 inches (35.6 x 22.9 x 24.1 cm)
Washable Adjustable straps Side handles
• Three removable wall stiffeners - two on the side and one on its base - to avoid crushing purchases
• Reduces consumer plastic bag waste

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Black Flower
Weight: 0.5 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 6.5 inches (16.5 x 16.5 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable sandwich bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Sandwich Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 6 inch pouch is designed to hold a traditional sandwich, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic sandwich bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 6.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Black Flower Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Brown Wolf
Weight: 0.5 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 6.5 inches (16.5 x 16.5 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable sandwich bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Sandwich Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 6 inch pouch is designed to hold a traditional sandwich, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic sandwich bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 6.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Brown Wolf Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Black Flower
Weight: 0.4 ounces
Size: 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.5 x 8.9 cm)
Description: Food-safe, dishwasher safe, reusable snack bag made from thick European cotton fabric and hand-sewn in the USA
Manufacturer: Lunchskins

Review: "Hubby brings lunch to work everyday and most days it’s a sandwich. I often pack it in a plastic container or wrap it in foil or plastic wrap, or even a zip top bag, but when I saw the LunchSkins Sandwich Bags bells went off in my head and I knew this was a better way! I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags before but they were always ‘cutesy’. Nothing my Hubby would use. This bag is cute, but in a manly sorta way. When I showed it to him, he said “cool!” He is really eco-conscious too!

The first question I had was “How do I keep this bag clean?” Thank Goodness LunchSkins are dishwasher safe! I know my bag is getting scrupulously clean each night! Dig this! It’s estimated that each LunchSkins reusable sandwich bag replaces nearly 1,000 plastic bags during the time you own and use it! That’s HUGE..."

Read the rest of the review at Leslie Loves Veggies

"The bag is very practical for carrying a sandwich or light snacks. It is stylish to carry! If you are giving your child a sandwich, there is a spot to write your child's name so that you can get back your bag safe home."

Read the rest of the review at Toddler Tales by Mommy blog

Make a Choice: LunchSkins Reusable Snack Bags are durable, eco-friendly solutions to the mounting challenges with disposable plastic bags. Made from a unique high-quality cotton fabric coated with a food-safe, thin polyurethane liner and manufactured in Europe by a family-owned business, LunchSkins use the same technology that bakeries and restaurants have used for years. LunchSkins are grease-proof and moisture-proof, making them ideal for messy sandwiches and snacks. LunchSkins have passed rigorous testing from an independent lab, and are certified lead-free, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free, and phthalate-free. The thin layer of polyurethane was tested and does not migrate into food or leave a "plastic" odor behind, meeting all European Union requirements for food contact.

LunchSkins are dishwasher-safe. They will withstand high heat cleaning and are perfect for hundreds of repeated uses. We estimate that each bag will replace nearly 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, so it saves owners approximately $20-$50 per bag, given that disposable plastic bags cost ~$0.03-$0.06 per bag. We recommend turning LunchSkins inside-out and washing them before first use. They will soften and fade after multiple washings, just like a pair of favorite old jeans. The 6 x 3 inch pouch is designed to hold a snack, but the bag has many creative and practical uses - e.g., lipsticks, dog treats, ice, pacifiers, baby toiletries, travel cosmetic cases, and many, many more. You may personalize your LunchSkins with a permanent marker on the nameplate.

Not a Sacrifice: Every day, approximately 20 million plastic baggies go into landfills. Only 1-3% of plastic bags in the United States are recycled; the percentage is lower globally. Today, there are an estimated 50,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the world's oceans. In the Pacific Ocean alone, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic bags, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/ campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/.

Each high quality reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. LunchSkins perform as well or better than disposable plastic bags, are eco-friendly, and make for a great green gift.

Feature List

• 6.5 x 3.5 inches with a fold-over flap and a snug hook and loop closure
• Black Flower Design
• Name plate to personalize with permanent marker
• European, certified food-safe cotton fabric with thin polyurethane layer
• Hand-sewn in the USA
• Dishwasher-safe
• Durable double-stitched seams
• Lead-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free
• We recommend a quick run through the dishwasher, inside-out, before first use

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Linen White with Green Leaf Stitching
Weight: 3.9 ounces
Bib Size: 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm)
Hat and Bootie Size: 0-6 months
Description: 100% organic cotton velour knotted hat, velour bib, and velour booties
Manufacturer: Green Bean Baby

Make a Choice: Many new parents worry constantly about introducing allergens and toxins to their newborn baby. A baby's skin is more porous, more fragile, less oily, and thinner than adults. Our 100% Organic Cotton 3-Piece Velour Knotted Hat, Bib & Bootie Set from Green Bean Baby in Canada eliminates the stress of unknown side effects caused by pesticide-treated conventional cotton baby clothes. Our cotton fabric is sourced in the United States and certified organic by the Texas Department of Agriculture to the USDA Organic Standards. A perfect baby shower green gift, our baby clothes set includes a velour knotted hat, velour bib, and velour booties in linen white with green leaf stitching.

"Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming. All cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal regulations covering how the cotton is grown." See The Organic Trade Association at http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/organic_cotton.html.

Not a Sacrifice: Despite the fact that organic cotton is the fastest growing segment in the cotton market, it accounts for only 0.76% of current global cotton production. Cotton grown with conventional methods still dominates the industry. Although it represents less than 3% of the world's agriculture, conventional cotton uses more than 25% of the world's chemical insecticides and more than 10% of the world's chemical pesticides according to the Organic Trade Association. Five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton grown in North America are known to cause cancer. All nine are classified by the United States government as among the most dangerous chemicals known.

Our 100% Organic Cotton 3-Piece Velour Knotted Hat, Bib & Bootie Set keeps babies as warm and snuggled as conventionally-grown cotton. It has a low carbon footprint, uses a renewable energy source, and makes an excellent green gift for a newborn baby.

Feature List

• 100% certified organic cotton grown in the USA
• Linen white with green leaf stitching
• Sewn in Canada
• One (1) 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm) velour bib
• One (1) pair of scratch mitts
• One (1) velour knotted cap
• One (1) pair of velour booties

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Linen White with Green Leaf Stitching
Weight: 6.2 ounces
Size: 0-6 months
Description: 100% organic cotton newborn layette set includes nightgown, knotted cap, scratch mitts, and booties
Manufacturer: Green Bean Baby

Make a Choice: Many new parents worry constantly about introducing allergens and toxins to their newborn baby. A baby's skin is more porous, more fragile, less oily, and thinner than adults. Our 100% Organic Cotton 4-Piece Newborn Set from Green Bean Baby in Canada eliminates the stress of unknown side effects caused by pesticide-treated conventional cotton baby clothes. Our cotton fabric is sourced in the United States and certified organic by the Texas Department of Agriculture to the USDA Organic Standards. An ideal baby shower green gift, our Layette Set includes a nightgown, knotted cap, scratch mitts, and booties in linen white with green leaf stitching.

"Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming. All cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal regulations covering how the cotton is grown." See The Organic Trade Association at http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/organic_cotton.html.

Not a Sacrifice: Despite the fact that organic cotton is the fastest growing segment in the cotton market, it accounts for only 0.76% of current global cotton production. Cotton grown with conventional methods still dominates the industry. Although it represents less than 3% of the world's agriculture, conventional cotton uses more than 25% of the world's chemical insecticides and more than 10% of the world's chemical pesticides according to the Organic Trade Association. Five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton grown in North America are known to cause cancer. All nine are classified by the United States government as among the most dangerous chemicals known.

Our 100% Organic Cotton 4-Piece Newborn Layette Set keeps babies as warm and snuggled as conventionally-grown cotton. It has a low carbon footprint, uses a renewable energy source, and makes an excellent green gift for a newborn baby.

Feature List

• 100% certified organic cotton grown in the USA
• Linen white with green leaf stitching
• Sewn in Canada
• One (1) nightgown
• One (1) knotted cap
• One (1) pair of scratch mitts
• Sturdy and durable
• One (1) pair of booties

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Apple Green
Size: 1/4 cup (62.5 ml), 1/3 cup (83.3 ml), 1/2 cup (125 ml), and 1 cup (250 ml)
Weight: 5.3 oz. (151 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe apple green dry measuring cups made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic; cup handles snap together for easy storage
Manufacturer: Preserve

Review: "Although I do like the green color because they were so easy to fit in my drawer! Seriously, the color totally stood out compared to all my other utensils! But, really, what I especially liked is that the measurement is imprinted on each measuring cup. Do you know the last measuring cups I had, they had some sort of sticker so that when when the sticker finally fell off I was left with not know what each measurement was! Now, I like to cook, but don't tell me how to measure a 1/4 cup of sugar without a measuring cup!"

Read the rest of the review at A Shoppers Quest

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved bottom of the measuring cup makes all the difference when releasing ingredients. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Apple Green Dry Measuring Cups are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The cups are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Apple Green dry measuring cups: 1/4 cup (62.5 ml), 1/3 cup (83.3 ml), 1/2 cup (125 ml), and 1 cup (250 ml)
• Cups handles snap together for storage as a single unit
• Curved bottom for easy release of ingredients
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of cup
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Milk White
Size: 3.5 quart (3.31 liters)
Weight: 15.9 oz. (450 grams)
Description: Heavy duty, dishwasher-safe milk white large colander made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make colanders, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the smooth hole designs in the colander makes content drain efficiently and quickly. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse them forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Large Milk White Colander is dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The colander is as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• One(1) Milk White 3.5 quart (3.31 liters) colander
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Fast draining
• Easy-grip handles
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Ripe Tomato
Size: 3.5 quart (3.31 liters)
Weight: 15.9 oz. (450 grams)
Description: Heavy duty, dishwasher-safe ripe tomato large colander made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make colanders, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the smooth hole designs in the colander makes content drain efficiently and quickly. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse them forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Large Ripe Tomato Colander is dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The colander is as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• One(1) Ripe Tomato 3.5 quart (3.31 liters) colander
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Fast draining
• Easy-grip handles
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Ripe Tomato
Size: 14 x 11 inches (35.6 x. 27.9 cm)
Weight: 1 pound, 14.5 ounces (864 grams)
Description: Heavy duty, dishwasher-safe ripe tomato large cutting board made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make cutting boards, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability. For example, the curved handle keeps the board stable during chopping and makes food transfer from board to bowl easy. Preserve added texture to the cutting board to hide knife marks, the #1 reason people throw out cutting boards. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse them forever. They tested and re-tested them to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Large Ripe Tomato Cutting Board is dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. The cutting board is as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic cup, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• One (1) Ripe Tomato 14 x 11 inches (35.6 x. 27.9 cm) cutting board
• Curved handle to make food transfer easy and to keep the board stable during chopping
• Knife-friendly, textured surface
• Safe and durable
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Reuse forever (or return it to Preserve and it will)

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Midnight Blue
Plate Size: 9.5 inches (24.1 cm)
Plate Weight: 11.9 ounces (338 grams)
Bowl Size: 16 ounces (0.47 liters)
Bowl Weight: 7.2 ounces (203 grams)
Cup Size: 16 ounces (0.47 liters)
Cup Weight: 6.2 ounces (175 grams)
Description: Four (4) dishwasher-safe midnight blue cups, four (4) dishwaster-safe midnight blue plates, and four (4) dishwasher-safe midnight blue bowls made from 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free plastic
Manufacturer: Preserve

Review: "The textured surface on these was a great idea! Of course now that I think of it, we do get rid of dishes whenever they get all scratched up and beat up looking. Sometimes they are not even that old, but with a bunch of teenagers and kids throwing these in the sink and dishwasher with all the knives and forks on top of them it's hard for anything to last. Also check out the cute design, we really like the handle like sides that help you get a good grip on your full plate. The cups are a really good size, big enough to get a nice amount of drink but not so big that they are overwhelming for the little hands. We use them for both grownups and the kids.

Perfect for everyday use and perfect for eating while on the couch like I do while I am working on here. Nice and casual but pretty enough to set a nice table like in this picture of the red pepper set which I would love to have next. And now we feel very good that we are starting to bring more eco-friendly products to our kitchen and into our lives."

Read the rest of the review at Sammy Makes Six blog

"I love my new Preserve Recycled Plastic Tableware Pack! It makes me really happy when I quality, eco-friendly products because they make going green so enjoyable. These products are durable and best of all, they are dishwasher-safe which is a must in my house. I also love the handle on the side of the plates because it saves me from burning my hand when I'm serving hot food."

Read the rest of the review at Readaholic

Make a Choice: When Preserve set out to make Everyday Tableware, it wanted to ensure that it was a permanent member of your household. They agonized and analyzed over each gram of plastic to arrive at the perfect balance of sturdiness, while minimizing the amount of precious recycled resources it uses. Material is not the only thing that creates strength and durability; the curved shape of the bowl makes all the difference. Preserve sought to design fun, ultra-functional, dishwasher-safe products that would enable customers to reuse the Everyday Tableware forever. They tested and re-tested the dishes to prove that they were tough enough to withstand thousands of rounds in the dishwasher. They added a textured surface to hide knife marks because research showed that such marks are the #1 reason why people dispose of tableware. Preserve stamps the manufacture date on the bottom of each plate, bowl, and cup. As the years pass, customers find this date a point of pride.

Preserve Plastic^TM is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free. Preserve obtains their plastics from a network of trusted providers and test every batch that they reprocess into Preserve products. In response to the proliferation of confusing news about plastic safety related to baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and other products, Preserve conducted further analysis of the plastics it uses. It confirmed the safety of its plastics and summarized their findings in a September 2008 statement. See http://www.preserveproducts.com/media/preserve-plastic-statement.pdf

The recycled plastic is made from #5 polypropylene plastic collected from individuals and companies. The recycling process begins with the grinding down of clean plastic products into flakes. These flakes are melted, subjected to high heat and pressure, and cut into smooth pellets. The pellets are used to make Preserve products. During processing, each batch of plastic is tested for foreign elements, such as heavy metals, and all of the plastics exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's foreign elements standards for drinking water.

Choosing Preserve Plastic translates into a sizeable reduction in greenhouse gases emitted, and significantly less water, energy, oil, natural gas, and coal used in making plastic. Preserve uses a tool known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess the environmental impact of its materials, products, and services. When compared to virgin polypropylene, Preserve plastic requires approximately 54% less water, 64% less greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents), 75% less oil, 48% less coal, 77% less natural gas, and 46% less electricity.

Polypropylene, the plastic that Preserve's products are made from, is a safe food-grade material. To better understand the environmental impacts of recycled polypropylene, Preserve purchased Life Cycle Inventory data on its own recycled polypropylene and virgin polypropylene from PE Americas, a consulting firm, which uses GaBi 4 Life Cycle Assessment software. GaBi 4 is known for its accurate and up-to-date data sets. These Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets detail the inputs and outputs of recycled and virgin polypropylene - everything used to make polypropylene as well as all the waste created by the manufacturing process (including water usage, energy usage, pollutants, etc.). Using these datasets Preserve was able to understand the environmental impact differences between virgin polypropylene and its particular process for recycling yogurt cups shipped from the middle of the United States, 1500 miles, to its reprocessor. PE Americas based this analysis on a standard model of data representative of the manufacture of recycled and virgin polypropylene in the United States. In order to customize this data for Preserve's manufacturing methods, it provided some specific numbers such as recycling scrap rate, contamination rate, and machine energy consumption. It then adjusted the resultant numbers to arrive at the environmental difference percentages above.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic tableware, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, much of the plastic tableware is made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in new plastic. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our Preserve Recycled Plastic Midnight Blue Plates, Bowls and Cups are dishwasher-safe, durable, and will last forever. They are as functional as any virgin plastic or disposable plastic bowl, are eco-friendly, and make a great green gift.

Feature List

• Four (4) Midnight Blue 16-ounce (0.47 liter) cups
• Four (4) Midnight Blue 16-ounce (0.47 liter) bowls
• Four (4) Midnight Blue 9.5 inches (21.1 cm) plates
• Curved shape for improved sturdiness
• Made in the USA
• Made with 100% recycled, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and melamine-free #5 plastic
• Dishwasher-safe
• Weighted for stability and resistance to spills
• Textured to conceal knife marks
• Braille for improved accessibility
• Date of manufacture printed on bottom of plates and cups

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Ice Blue
Size: ½-inch square (12.7 mm square)
Description: Reclaimed 1940s Ice Blue Mason Jar hoop earrings handcrafted in Pennsylvania and hung from sterling silver wire
Artist: Laura Bergman
Company: Bottled Up Designs

Review: "As a kid, living in Poland, I remember collecting pieces of colored glass. This may sound weird to you, but I thought the little bits of glass were beautiful. There was a cobble stone street near my grandmother's house where, for some reason, there was always a lot of broken glass, in just about every color. My favorite was red and blue. I was so excited when I received a chance to review the Reclaimed 1940s Ice Blue Mason Jar Pendant from Green Ostrich.

Isn't it beautiful? I love it and have been getting so many complements on it, how original and unique it is. It is now my favorite necklace by far, especially since it reminds me of being a kid :)"

Read the rest of the review at Diary of a Stay Home Mom

Make a Choice: Our striking recycled glass and China jewelry is handmade in Pennsylvania from antique glass, dishware, and bottles reclaimed from the natural wooded habitats and rural farmlands. The glass in these ice blue hoop earrings, hung from a sterling silver wire, originates from a 1940s Mason Jar, commonly used for preserving and canning fruits, vegetables, and jelly. Each piece of jewelry from Bottled Up Designs comes with a small "Story of the Glass," detailing the origin and age of the glass.

The artist, Laura Bergman, has lived in Pennsylvania Amish Country all of her life. She spends countless hours poking through old glass and bottle dumps scattered throughout the forests where she lives. Several years ago, she found herself bothered by the fact that broken glass is often left on the ground for wildlife and people to stumble upon, so she decided to pick up the pieces and turn them into something beautiful. Her line of recycled glass jewelry was born.

Not a Sacrifice: National Geographic writes, in its jewelry section of its Green Guide for Everyday Living, the following: "[as] a general rule, mining the earth for all the gold, silver, platinum and titanium that go into trinkets and jewelry is not ecologically sound. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hard-rock mining produces more toxic waste than any other industry in the United States. Some mines extract as little as one ounce of gold from 100 tons of excavated earth, and, according to the environmental group WorldWatch Institute, the gold produced for a single 0.33 ounce, 18-karat gold ring generates 18 tons of mine waste.

Cyanide heap leaching (where cyanide is sprayed on piles of gold and ore to separate them) and acid mine drainage (a slurry of arsenic, lead and mercury) have given gold mining the reputation of being one of the dirtiest industries in existence. Cyanide mixtures and acid mine drainage are both stored in underground ponds, after being used to extract gold, but the lined ponds don't always offer the best protection. These toxic liquids can eat through linings and earth, causing underground reservoirs to collapse and pollute nearby water supplies and rivers. Open pit mines can also fill with acidic water, which kills birds and other wildlife when they drink it.

Mining also consumes as much as 10 percent of the world's energy supply. According to the report 'Dirty Metals', published by Oxfam America and the environmental nonprofit Earthworks, the U.S. mining industry consumes the same amount of energy needed to power 25 million single-family homes for a year. Converting all that mined ore into a material suitable for jewelry is also responsible for nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide, both potent greenhouse gases and components of smog and acid rain." See http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/jewelry/environmental_impact. .

Our Reclaimed 1940s Ice Blue Mason Jar Hoop Earrings by artist Laura Bergman forgo all of the environmental trappings of common jewelry, has a low carbon footprint, is eco-friendly, and makes an excellent green gift.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Ruby Red
Size: 5/8 x 1½ inches (15.9 mm x 38.1 mm)
Description: Reclaimed 1940s ruby red Schlitz beer bottle large rectangle pendant handcrafted in Pennsylvania and hung from a 2 mm sterling silver necklace
Artist: Laura Bergman
Company: Bottled Up Designs

Review: "As a kid, living in Poland, I remember collecting pieces of colored glass. This may sound weird to you, but I thought the little bits of glass were beautiful. There was a cobble stone street near my grandmother's house where, for some reason, there was always a lot of broken glass, in just about every color. My favorite was red and blue. I was so excited when I received a chance to review the Reclaimed 1940s Ice Blue Mason Jar Pendant from Green Ostrich.

Isn't it beautiful? I love it and have been getting so many complements on it, how original and unique it is. It is now my favorite necklace by far, especially since it reminds me of being a kid :)"

Read the rest of the review at Diary of a Stay Home Mom

Make a Choice: Our striking recycled glass and China jewelry is handmade in Pennsylvania from antique glass, dishware, and bottles reclaimed from the natural wooded habitats and rural farmlands. The glass in this large ruby red rectangle pendant, hung from a sterling silver wire, originates from a 1940s Schlitz beer bottle made by Anchor Hocking. Each piece of jewelry from Bottled Up Designs comes with a small "Story of the Glass," detailing the origin and age of the glass.

The artist, Laura Bergman, has lived in Pennsylvania Amish Country all of her life. She spends countless hours poking through old glass and bottle dumps scattered throughout the forests where she lives. Several years ago, she found herself bothered by the fact that broken glass is often left on the ground for wildlife and people to stumble upon, so she decided to pick up the pieces and turn them into something beautiful. Her line of recycled glass jewelry was born.

Not a Sacrifice: National Geographic writes, in its jewelry section of its Green Guide for Everyday Living, the following: "[as] a general rule, mining the earth for all the gold, silver, platinum and titanium that go into trinkets and jewelry is not ecologically sound. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hard-rock mining produces more toxic waste than any other industry in the United States. Some mines extract as little as one ounce of gold from 100 tons of excavated earth, and, according to the environmental group WorldWatch Institute, the gold produced for a single 0.33 ounce, 18-karat gold ring generates 18 tons of mine waste.

Cyanide heap leaching (where cyanide is sprayed on piles of gold and ore to separate them) and acid mine drainage (a slurry of arsenic, lead and mercury) have given gold mining the reputation of being one of the dirtiest industries in existence. Cyanide mixtures and acid mine drainage are both stored in underground ponds, after being used to extract gold, but the lined ponds don't always offer the best protection. These toxic liquids can eat through linings and earth, causing underground reservoirs to collapse and pollute nearby water supplies and rivers. Open pit mines can also fill with acidic water, which kills birds and other wildlife when they drink it.

Mining also consumes as much as 10 percent of the world's energy supply. According to the report 'Dirty Metals', published by Oxfam America and the environmental nonprofit Earthworks, the U.S. mining industry consumes the same amount of energy needed to power 25 million single-family homes for a year. Converting all that mined ore into a material suitable for jewelry is also responsible for nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide, both potent greenhouse gases and components of smog and acid rain." See http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/jewelry/environmental_impact.

Our Reclaimed 1940s Ruby Red Beer Bottle Large Rectangle Pendant by artist Laura Bergman forgoes all of the environmental trappings of common jewelry, has a low carbon footprint, is eco-friendly, and makes an excellent green gift.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Cobalt Blue
Size: ¼ x 1 inches (6.4 mm x 25.4 mm)
Description: Reclaimed 1960s cobalt blue glass earrings handcrafted in Pennsylvania from a Noxema bottle and hung from sterling silver wire
Artist: Laura Bergman
Company: Bottled Up Designs

Review: "As a kid, living in Poland, I remember collecting pieces of colored glass. This may sound weird to you, but I thought the little bits of glass were beautiful. There was a cobble stone street near my grandmother's house where, for some reason, there was always a lot of broken glass, in just about every color. My favorite was red and blue. I was so excited when I received a chance to review the Reclaimed 1940s Ice Blue Mason Jar Pendant from Green Ostrich.

Isn't it beautiful? I love it and have been getting so many complements on it, how original and unique it is. It is now my favorite necklace by far, especially since it reminds me of being a kid :)"

Read the rest of the review at Diary of a Stay Home Mom

Make a Choice: Our striking recycled glass and China jewelry is handmade in Pennsylvania from antique glass, dishware, and bottles reclaimed from the natural wooded habitats and rural farmlands. The glass in these cobalt blue earrings, hung from a sterling silver wire, originates from a 1960s Noxema skin cleanser bottle. Each piece of jewelry from Bottled Up Designs comes with a small "Story of the Glass," detailing the origin and age of the glass.

The artist, Laura Bergman, has lived in Pennsylvania Amish Country all of her life. She spends countless hours poking through old glass and bottle dumps scattered throughout the forests where she lives. Several years ago, she found herself bothered by the fact that broken glass is often left on the ground for wildlife and people to stumble upon, so she decided to pick up the pieces and turn them into something beautiful. Her line of recycled glass jewelry was born.

Not a Sacrifice: National Geographic writes, in its jewelry section of its Green Guide for Everyday Living, the following: "[as] a general rule, mining the earth for all the gold, silver, platinum and titanium that go into trinkets and jewelry is not ecologically sound. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hard-rock mining produces more toxic waste than any other industry in the United States. Some mines extract as little as one ounce of gold from 100 tons of excavated earth, and, according to the environmental group WorldWatch Institute, the gold produced for a single 0.33 ounce, 18-karat gold ring generates 18 tons of mine waste.

Cyanide heap leaching (where cyanide is sprayed on piles of gold and ore to separate them) and acid mine drainage (a slurry of arsenic, lead and mercury) have given gold mining the reputation of being one of the dirtiest industries in existence. Cyanide mixtures and acid mine drainage are both stored in underground ponds, after being used to extract gold, but the lined ponds don't always offer the best protection. These toxic liquids can eat through linings and earth, causing underground reservoirs to collapse and pollute nearby water supplies and rivers. Open pit mines can also fill with acidic water, which kills birds and other wildlife when they drink it.

Mining also consumes as much as 10 percent of the world's energy supply. According to the report 'Dirty Metals', published by Oxfam America and the environmental nonprofit Earthworks, the U.S. mining industry consumes the same amount of energy needed to power 25 million single-family homes for a year. Converting all that mined ore into a material suitable for jewelry is also responsible for nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide, both potent greenhouse gases and components of smog and acid rain." See http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/jewelry/environmental_impact.

Our Reclaimed 1960s Cobalt Blue Glass Earrings by artist Laura Bergman forgo all of the environmental trappings of common jewelry, has a low carbon footprint, is eco-friendly, and makes an excellent green gift.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Crimson Feather
Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (323 grams)
Size: 10 x 11.5 inches (25.4 x 29.2 cm)
Description: One inch, heavy duty, recycled cardboard, 3-ring binder with high-resolution crimson-colored feathers printed in soy-based ink
Manufacturer: O'BON

Make a Choice: Made from durable recycled cardboard, O'BON's Birds Series One-Inch Binders feature elegant, high-resolution designs of exotic bird feathers printed in soy-based ink. These binders provide a superior, eco-friendly solution to common vinyl binders. Our binders hold any standard 3-hole punch paper and have a heavy duty, 3-ring construction.

Not a Sacrifice: Traditional binders are made of multiple pieces of vinyl and PVC, some of the most environmentally harmful plastics in the world. Sealed together with a heat press, the assembly of traditional binders makes recycling difficult. Most vinyl binders end up in landfills, which when burned in accidental landfill fires, release toxic dioxins. "Currently, the uncontrolled burning of residential waste is thought to be the largest source of dioxins to the environment of the United States. While the United States has taken action to control this type of emission, some of these sources of dioxin - [medical and municipal waste incineration] - may occur elsewhere in the world."  http://www.fda.gov/Food/Food Safety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/Chemical Contaminants/DioxinsPCBs/ucm077524.htm

Using binders to organize your papers and notes is a common sense approach to doing work. Using recycled cardboard binders is also a common sense approach that does not require a sacrifice. Our Recycled Cardboard Crimson Feather One-Inch Binder has a low carbon footprint, uses a renewable energy source, and makes an excellent green gift.

Feature List

• Heavy duty 3-ring construction
• Non-toxic
• Holds any standard 3-hole punch paper
• Recycled, eco-friendly cardboard
• Blank label field on outside of binder for name, subject, date, etc.
• High-resolution crimson-colored feathers printed in soy-based ink

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: 12 Different Animals
Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (113 grams)
Pencil Size: 7 inches (17.8 cm)
Description: Twelve (12)-pack of long-lasting wildlife design color pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper, tightly rolled around high-quality graphite; pencils sharpen easily, write better, and do not break easily; last 2-3 times as long as a wood pencil
Manufacturer: O'BON

Make a Choice: Many of today's pencils break easily, sharpen poorly and cause an occasional blister. O’BON’s 100% Recycled Newspaper Color Pencils are made entirely of tightly rolled recycled newspaper, which protects high-quality graphite. These color pencils last 2-3 times as long as traditional wood color pencils. They are easy to sharpen and have a surprise inside. Ask a child to sharpen an O’BON pencil and enjoy the “oohs” and “aahs” of excitement and interest as old newspaper unfurls. Each eraserless color pencil features its own unique wildlife design as follows: Turtle (green), Zebra (black), Parrot (red), Alligator (dark green), Leopard (yellow), Tiger (orange), Snake (light brown), Bear (dark brown), Kingfisher (dark blue), Starfish (pink), Hummingbird (light blue) and Marine Fish (purple). All O’BON color pencils are non-toxic, safe for the most obsessive pencil chewers.

For over 400 years, manufacturers have made the pencil the same way. They surround graphite in a grooved wood casing that almost always has an air pocket between the two materials. That air pocket allows the graphite to vibrate when the pencil is dropped or tapped repeatedly, often causing the graphite to chip or break inside the pencil. When the pencil is sharpened, the user often sharpens and resharpens the pencil until he finds unbroken graphite, at which point he has often sharpened away a big chunk of the pencil.

The O'BON newspaper pencil story is as follows:



First, old newspaper is flattened, cut to the right width, and given a bath in water-based glue. We wrap each newspaper 48 times around graphite. We air dry it. We heat it. And then, after cooling, the newspaper hardens without any air pockets around the graphite. Without the air pocket, the graphite is nearly impossible to break. Drop them, flip them or bang them, and it will not make a difference. They are shock-resistant and 3 times as strong as a wood pencil. They sharpen perfectly every time, and they last 2-3 times as long as a wood pencil. Not a Sacrifice: "The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year." See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/ materials/paper/faqs.htm. Globally the deforestation challenges on Earth are many, controversial, and range from the alarming to the catastrophic. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation. People need pencils. Invented in the late 18^th century, they have served the human race well. But, as ForestEthics recently reported, many manufacturers of wood pencils do not offer pencils certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global non-profit organization created to improve sustainable forestry worldwide. Many top pencil makers offer no pencils with post-consumer recycled or FSC-certified lumber, which means, at a minimum they are likely clear-cutting forests with little regard to sustainability. See http://www.forestethics.org/downloads/ backtoschool.pdf.

Our O'BON color pencils perform better than wood pencils. They require no sacrifice. They have a low carbon footprint, use a renewable energy source, and make excellent green gifts.

Feature List

• Twelve (12) color pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper
• Each eraserless color pencil is printed with a unique wildlife design - Turtle (green), Zebra (black), Parrot (red), Alligator (dark green), Leopard (yellow), Tiger (orange), Snake (light brown), Bear (dark brown), Kingfisher (dark blue), Starfish (pink), Hummingbird (light blue) and Marine Fish (purple)
• Superior graphite protection makes our 7-inch (17.8 cm) color pencils last 2-3 times as long as wood color pencils
• Pencil sharpening unfurls old newspaper

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Brushed Nickel
Shipping Weight: 5.2 ounces (147.4 grams)
Pencil Size: 7 inches (17.8 cm)
Description: Ten (10)-pack of brushed nickel professional art pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper, tightly rolled around high-quality graphite; pencils sharpen easily, draw better, and do not break easily
Manufacturer: O'BON

Make a Choice: Many of today's pencils break easily, sharpen poorly and cause an occasional blister. O'BON's 100% Recycled Newspaper Pencils are made entirely of tightly rolled recycled newspaper, which protects high-quality graphite. These #2/2B pencils last 2-3 times as long as traditional wood pencils. They are easy to sharpen and have a surprise inside. Ask a child to sharpen an O'BON pencil and enjoy the "oohs" and "aahs" of excitement and interest as old newspaper unfurls. Each pencil features its own unique newsprint design. All O'BON pencils are non-toxic, safe for the most obsessive pencil chewers.

For over 400 years, manufacturers have made the pencil the same way. They surround graphite in a grooved wood casing that almost always has an air pocket between the two materials. That air pocket allows the graphite to vibrate when the pencil is dropped or tapped repeatedly, often causing the graphite to chip or break inside the pencil. When the pencil is sharpened, the user often sharpens and resharpens the pencil until he finds unbroken graphite, at which point he has often sharpened away a big chunk of the pencil.

The O'BON newspaper pencil story is as follows:



First, old newspaper is flattened, cut to the right width, and given a bath in water-based glue. We wrap each newspaper 48 times around graphite. We air dry it. We heat it. And then, after cooling, the newspaper hardens without any air pockets around the graphite. Without the air pocket, the graphite is nearly impossible to break. Drop them, flip them or bang them, and it will not make a difference. They are shock-resistant and 3 times as strong as a wood pencil. They sharpen perfectly every time, and they last 2-3 times as long as a wood pencil. Not a Sacrifice: "The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year." See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/ materials/paper/faqs.htm. Globally the deforestation challenges on Earth are many, controversial, and range from the alarming to the catastrophic. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation. People need pencils. Invented in the late 18^th century, they have served the human race well. But, as ForestEthics recently reported, many manufacturers of wood pencils do not offer pencils certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global non-profit organization created to improve sustainable forestry worldwide. Many top pencil makers offer no pencils with post-consumer recycled or FSC-certified lumber, which means, at a minimum they are likely clear-cutting forests with little regard to sustainability. See http://www.forestethics.org/downloads/ backtoschool.pdf.

Our O'BON pencils perform better than wood pencils. They require no sacrifice. They have a low carbon footprint, use a renewable energy source, and make excellent green gifts.

Feature List

• Ten (10) professional pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper
• Brushed nickel finish
• Each pencil features a different grade of graphite hardness as follows: 2H, 1H, 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, and 8B
• Superior graphite protection makes our 7-inch (17.8 cm) color pencils last 2-3 times as long as wood color pencils
• Pencil sharpening unfurls old newspaper

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Rainbow
Shipping Weight: 3 ounces (85 grams)
Pencil Size: 7 inches (17.8 cm)
Description: Ten (10)-pack of long-lasting, beautiful rainbow print #2/2B pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper, tightly rolled around high-quality graphite; pencils sharpen easily, write better, and do not break easily; last 2-3 times as long as a wood pencil
Manufacturer: O'BON

Make a Choice: Many of today's pencils break easily, sharpen poorly and cause an occasional blister. O'BON's 100% Recycled Newspaper Pencils are made entirely of tightly rolled recycled newspaper, which protects high-quality graphite. These eraserless #2/2B pencils last 2-3 times as long as traditional wood pencils. They are easy to sharpen and have a surprise inside. Ask a child to sharpen an O'BON pencil and enjoy the "oohs" and "aahs" of excitement and interest as old newspaper unfurls. Each pencil features its own unique newsprint design. All O'BON pencils are non-toxic, safe for the most obsessive pencil chewers.

For over 400 years, manufacturers have made the pencil the same way. They surround graphite in a grooved wood casing that almost always has an air pocket between the two materials. That air pocket allows the graphite to vibrate when the pencil is dropped or tapped repeatedly, often causing the graphite to chip or break inside the pencil. When the pencil is sharpened, the user often sharpens and resharpens the pencil until he finds unbroken graphite, at which point he has often sharpened away a big chunk of the pencil.

The O'BON newspaper pencil story is as follows:



First, old newspaper is flattened, cut to the right width, and given a bath in water-based glue. We wrap each newspaper 48 times around graphite. We air dry it. We heat it. And then, after cooling, the newspaper hardens without any air pockets around the graphite. Without the air pocket, the graphite is nearly impossible to break. Drop them, flip them or bang them, and it will not make a difference. They are shock-resistant and 3 times as strong as a wood pencil. They sharpen perfectly every time, and they last 2-3 times as long as a wood pencil. Not a Sacrifice: "The average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year." See http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/ materials/paper/faqs.htm. Globally the deforestation challenges on Earth are many, controversial, and range from the alarming to the catastrophic. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation. People need pencils. Invented in the late 18^th century, they have served the human race well. But, as ForestEthics recently reported, many manufacturers of wood pencils do not offer pencils certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global non-profit organization created to improve sustainable forestry worldwide. Many top pencil makers offer no pencils with post-consumer recycled or FSC-certified lumber, which means, at a minimum they are likely clear-cutting forests with little regard to sustainability. See http://www.forestethics.org/downloads/ backtoschool.pdf.

Our O'BON pencils perform better than wood pencils. They require no sacrifice. They have a low carbon footprint, use a renewable energy source, and make excellent green gifts.

Feature List

• Ten (10) eraserless #2/2B pencils made from 100% recycled newspaper
• Each pencil includes a unique rainbow design
• Superior graphite protection makes our 7-inch (17.8 cm)pencils last 2-3 times as long as wood pencils
• Pencil sharpening unfurls old newspaper

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Teal Panda
Description: Tote with yellow and teal panda design made from 100% recycled 600D Polyester; 3% of gross sales contributed to the WILD Foundation
Dimensions: 16 inches/40.6 cm (h) x 11 inches/27.9 cm (w) x 3.5 inches/8.9 cm (d)
Manufacturer: Instinctive Bags and Backpacks

Make a Choice: Made from 100% recycled 600D polyester, hardware, and webbing, the Recycled Polyester Teal Panda Tote from Instinctive Bags and Backpacks (also known as Motive Collective) is one of the most eco-friendly totes on Earth. It has a rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating on the underside of the body fabric. Three percent (3%) of all Tote gross sales are contributed to The WILD Foundation (http://www.wild.org ), the only international organization dedicated entirely and explicitly to wilderness protection around the world. Motive Collective also offers a Lifetime Takeback Policy. If at any time, you are ready to stop using your Tote, simply ship it directly to the company (email takeback@motivecollective.com for detailed instructions). Motive Collective will repair your old bag as necessary and donate it to someone who needs it; you will receive ANY in stock bag, tote, or backpack for 10% off wholesale cost plus shipping. This is an unlimited service, but certain time restrictions may apply.

Not a Sacrifice: "Polyester is the most widely used manufactured fiber and is made from petroleum. Demand has nearly doubled globally in the last 15 years. Making it is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil. Emissions during manufacturing include volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, all of which may cause or aggravate respiratory disease." See Claudio L 2007. Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry. Environmental Health Perspectives 115:A449-A454. doi:10.1289/ehp.115-a449 at http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.115-a449 . Most polyester is not biodegradable, although that is changing slowly with new polyesters now on the market. Recycled polyester lowers our dependence on oil and creates less contamination. The Recycled Polyester Teal Panda Tote does not require a sacrifice in function. It offers the same or better features as new polyester totes, is eco-friendly, and will last for years. It makes a great green gift for kids or adults for office, home, or school.

Feature List

• Large main compartments
• Deep front pocket for water bottle
• 3 internal pockets
• Button closure
• 100% Recycled 600D Polyester, hardware and webbing
• Rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating
• Lifetime Takeback Policy
• Manufactured in a Fair Labor Association and Social Accountability International approved factory

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Blue and Green Earth
Size: 2.25 inches (6.78 cm) in diameter
Description: Small blue and green Earth dog chew toy made of FDA-approved non-toxic ingredients that are durable, pliable, chewy, buoyant and bouncy. Rated the top product of the year by numerous magazines and called the "world's best dog ball" by industry experts, this doggie-durable toy is also 100% recyclable and peppermint scented. Constructed for the most aggressive chewers.
Manufacturer: Planet Dog

Make a Choice: Planet Dog makes toys, not waste. Not only are all the Orbee-Tuff® toys 100% recyclable, but they reuse all of their post-production material that would otherwise be discarded. They call this post-production material “regrind” because they literally take the excess material, regrind it, then mold it into another toy that’s just as doggie-durable, buoyant, bouncy, and minty as the first. Planet Dog also accepts old and well-tossed returned Orbee-Tuff® toys for future production, creating a closed-loop recycling process.

Planet Dog donates 2% of its proceeds to its non-profit Planet Dog Foundation, which provides cash grants and in-kind support to programs throughout the United States that train, place and support dogs who work to help people in need. They strive to make maximum impact through grant giving, product donations, capacity building and referral services.

Not a Sacrifice: In their new book, Time to Eat the Dog: The Real Guide to Sustainable Living (2009) authors Robert and Brenda Vale, make the case that dog companions have more of an environmental impact than driving a big car. In fact, according to their international headline making findings, feeding and caring for a pet dog (roughly the size of a German Shepherd), has twice the environmental impact of driving a 4.6-litre Toyota Land Cruiser 10,000kms (6,213 miles) a year. While dog toys are only part of the calculation, buying recycled or recyclable toys like the Small Orbee-Tuff Orbee-Ball help reduce your dog's carbon pawprint and makes a great green gift.

Feature List

• 2.25 inches (6.78 cm) in diameter
• Constructed of FDA-approved non-toxic ingredients; rinses clean
• 100% Recyclable
• Pepperiment Scented
• Constructed for the most aggressive chewers
• Blue and Green Earth design
• Made in the U.S.A.

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Printed Circuit Board
Frame Size: 7" x 9" (17.78 cm x 22.86 cm)
Picture Size: 4" x 6" (10.16 cm x 15.24 cm)
Description: Picture your favorite photo enclosed in a frame made from actual printed circuit boards. Frame dimensions are 7" x 9" - accommodates photos sized 4" x 6".
Manufacturer: TerraCycle

Make a Choice: TerraCycle is in the business of Upcycling, making affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. The process of upcycling converts useless products or disposed-of waste into new products of better quality or or higher environmental value. TerraCycle takes previously utilized printed circuit boards, juice pouches, vinyl records and more and turns them into clocks, backpacks and picture frames.

Not a Sacrifice: Printed circuit boards (PCB), widely used in computers, cell phones, and other electronics, can cause serious environmental problems if not properly disposed. If discarded randomly in landfills, they will leach toxins into groundwater and soil. If burned, PCBs will produce hazardous byproducts (including dioxins, furans, polybrominated organic pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the United States with almost 2.5 million tons winding up in landfills each year. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Statistics on the Management of Used and End-of-Life Electronics, and a paper called "Electonics Waste Management in the United States," only 18 percent of the electronic products ready for End of Life (EOL) management is recycled. In 1999, 1,052,000 tons of electronic waste were produced in the United States; 8 years later, that number has more than doubled to 2,251,000 tons.

The TerraCycle Printed Circuit Board 4-by-6-Inch Picture Frame prevents one of those PCBs from ending up in a landfill. It's useful, a conversation piece, and makes for a practical green gift.

Feature List

• Frame Size: 7" x 9" (17.78 cm x 22.86 cm)
• Picture Size: 4" x 6" (10.16 cm x 15.24 cm)
• Made from retired printed circuit boards, each frame is unique
• Picture frame stand attached to the back

Ships in 1-3 Days

Design: Skittles
Size: 11.82" x 1.18" x 9.84" (30.02 cm x 2.99 cm x 24.99 cm)
Description: Made from unwanted rolls of Skittles candy boxes and bags, these upcycled, lightweight, battery-free, portable speakers offer sweet sound for your iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, CD player, laptop, or computer.
Manufacturer: TerraCycle

Make a Choice: TerraCycle has created upcycled, battery-free, portable eco-speakers out of excess, unwanted Skittles packaging. The speakers come with a 3.5mm Universal Plug for your iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, CD Player, laptop computer, etc. The speakers are made with up to 80% recycled materials and packaged with sustainability and conservation in mind.

TerraCycle is in the business of Upcycling, making affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. The process of upcycling converts useless products or disposed-of waste into new products of better quality or or higher environmental value. TerraCycle takes previously utilized printed circuit boards, juice pouches, candy wrappers, vinyl records and more and turns them into clocks, MP3 speakers, backpacks and picture frames.

Not a Sacrifice: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day, or a total of 29 pounds (13 kg) per week and 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year. This number does not include industrial waste or commercial trash.

Trash is a pervasive but unnoticed part of our lives. The great irony of waste management is that even the most efficient and well-run waste collection programs remain out of sight, ignored by the public that they serve. Today, many nations face a looming waste management crisis, as their landfills reach capacity and continue to degrade the environment. Waste management is linked to environmental quality in general, and climate change in particular. As paper, food, and other biodegradable waste breaks down in landfills, large amounts of methane are released. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is nearly 70 times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide (CO2). Other heat-trapping gasses like nitrous oxide (nearly 300 times more powerful than CO2) are emitted when plastics and textiles are burned in incinerators. And more CO2 is emitted during the collection and transportation of waste to processing sites at landfills and incinerators.

Waste management also has a significant impact on human health. Chemicals from degrading waste can leak into aquifers and contaminate water supplies. Landfills and older incinerators can also release harmful dioxins, a cancer-causing carcinogen; air pollutants like NOx and SOx, which make up acid rain; and other kinds of particulate matter, which can cause respiratory illnesses. Landfills also provide shelter for disease-carrying agents like rats, flies, and other vermin.

TerraCycle Skittles Upcycled Boombox Speakers offer battery-free sweet sound in unwanted Skittles candy packaging. They are eco-friendly and make for a contemporary green gift.

Feature List

• Includes 3.5 mm Universal Plug for iPod, iPhone, CD Player, MP3 player, laptop computer, etc.
• Battery-free
• Design: Skittles packaging
• Diameter: 57 mm
• Dimension: 8±15% ohm
• Rated impedance: 1W
• Max power input: 2W
• Resonant Frequency: 400±20% Hz
• Packed and shipped flat to reduce pollution
• Speakers with up to 80% recycled materials

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Avocado
Weight: 1.7 ounces (48.2 grams)
Size: 1.6 x 8.25 inches (4.1 x 21.0 cm)
Description: Reduce your forkprint with a set of durable, dishwasher-safe bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - bundled in an Avocado-colored case made of recycled PET plastic
Manufacturer: To-Go

Review: "...The set includes a bamboo fork, spoon, knife, and a set of chopsticks in a handy little carrying case. All of the utensils are dishwasher safe, stain resistant, and heat resistant. It makes my life so much easier when I can just throw it in the dishwasher and not worry about it!

Eric has found this set fantastic for work. It fits easily in his lunchbox and the carrying case keeps all the utensils together and easy to find. One of the things he likes best about them is how durable and strong they are. Plastic utensils can always be so difficult to use, the fork won't pierce the food or the knife simply isn't strong enough to cut. But that's not the case with these, they easily do both. Not to mention how beautiful they are. I love the color of the bamboo and the design of the utensils. Eric has gotten many compliments from co-workers on how they are not only beautiful but also unique and practical."

Read the rest of the review at From Chalkboards To Strollers Blog

"Well I am loving this utensil set. It is perfect. I am typically to far away from home when out working during the day to come home for lunch. I also don't always have the extra money to stop and grab something to eat while I am out working. Until now I never had a way to make myself a salad to take with me. Well I did but it really got to be a pain keeping track of my utensils and such. So this set is awesome for this. It comes in this handy little carrying case so I can just toss the whole thing in my lunch bag and not have to worry about searching all over for them when I am ready to eat (in my car usually lol). They are really durable and the perfect size. I wasn't to sure how the knife would work as I have never used a bamboo knife before but it works great!! I am completely satisfied with this set.

Read the rest of the review at Miracle Momas Blog

Make a Choice: Most people use a travel mug. Many are moving to reusable shopping bags and totes. The next evolution for all of us will be to carry our own set of utensils. To-Go Ware has made this set of heat-resistant, stain-resistant, lightweight bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - to prepare for the coming carry-your-own-utensil movement. Dishwasher-safe, the utensils fit in a RePEaT case, made out of RPET (recycled PET plastic) that To-Go-Ware likes to call "RePEaT," because it reincarnates plastic. Recycled PET plastic comes from plastic tea, juice, soda and water bottles that would otherwise end up in a landfill. A handy carabiner hangs off of the back of each RePEaT case for easy transport.

Bamboo is durable, stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Our bamboo utensils are made in China by a small cottage industry factory that a third-party auditor has ensured uses fair labor practices and sources from a controlled, sustainable bamboo forest.

Each spoon, fork, knife, and chopstick is made from a single sheet of bamboo without the use of glue. Bamboo is naturally more water-resistant than wood and does not stain easily. To-Go-Ware has increased their durability by sealing each utensil with a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant made of Potassium Permanganate (a water-soluble salt often used as a disinfectant), Acetic Acid (an organic, relatively weak acid found universally in food, water, and soil), Heptane (most frequently used as oil repellant, distilled from the resin of the Jeffery Pine and the fruit of the Petroleum Nut Tree), and Ethanol (sugar-based and the most commonly used form of alcohol). Recent lab tests have shown that no heavy metals were detected in the sealant, including lead, arsenic, mercury, or chromium.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic utensils, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, many of these plastic forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastic utensils. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set in a Recycled Plastic Case is dishwasher-safe, durable, and 100% biodegradable. The fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks are as functional as any plastic utensil, enable you to eat on the go, make a great green gift, and they come without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to your health.

Feature List

• One (1) bamboo fork, one (1) bamboo knife, one (1) bamboo spoon, and one (1) set of bamboo chopsticks
• Hand-finished with top grade, natural, food-safe wood oil
• One (1) Avocado-colored case made from 100% recycled PET plastic (tea, juice, soda, and water bottles)
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% biodegradable

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Brown with multi-colored embroidery
Weight: 1.7 ounces (48.2 grams)
Size: 1.6 x 8.25 inches (4.1 x 21.0 cm)
Description: Reduce your forkprint with a set of durable, dishwasher-safe bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - bundled in an embroidered brown case hand woven by Burma refugees
Manufacturer: To-Go

Make a Choice: Most people use a travel mug. Many are moving to reusable shopping bags and totes. The next evolution for all of us will be to carry our own set of utensils. To-Go Ware has made this set of heat-resistant, stain-resistant, lightweight bamboo chopsticks and flatware - fork, knife, and spoon - to prepare for the coming carry-your-own-utensil movement. Dishwasher-safe, the utensils fit in a 100% cotton carrying case hand woven by WEAVE (Women's Education for Advancement and Empowerment), a Fair Trade women's cooperative of Karen craftswomen living in refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. Sales provide much needed income for the women and their families. Karen people have lived for hundreds of years in Burma, enjoying a diverse culture. However, because of human rights abuses perpetrated by the military government of Burma, they are now among the over 100,000 refugees crowded along the Thai-Burma border. Many refugees do not have access to proper healthcare, education, or income and are unable to safely return to their homes in Burma. WEAVE programs support child development centers, produce health education materials, and generate income for programs that encourage women's self-determination. All To-Go Ware partners are regularly monitored for human rights and environmental abuses by an independent third party monitor, in addition to a supplemental audit we've added with some additional standards we feel are important. We are proud of the protections provided by all of our partners to their employees and the Earth.

Bamboo is durable, stronger than oak, and will withstand a great deal of use without damage. It is also 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Since bamboo is a grass, and not a tree, it grows like one. Many species of bamboo will grow up to two feet or more a day. When harvested, bamboo does not need replanting, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. It renews itself readily and produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Our bamboo utensils are made in China by a small cottage industry factory that a third-party auditor has ensured uses fair labor practices and sources from a controlled, sustainable bamboo forest.

Each spoon, fork, knife, and chopstick is made from a single sheet of bamboo without the use of glue. Bamboo is naturally more water-resistant than wood and does not stain easily. To-Go-Ware has increased their durability by sealing each utensil with a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant made of Potassium Permanganate (a water-soluble salt often used as a disinfectant), Acetic Acid (an organic, relatively weak acid found universally in food, water, and soil), Heptane (most frequently used as oil repellant, distilled from the resin of the Jeffery Pine and the fruit of the Petroleum Nut Tree), and Ethanol (sugar-based and the most commonly used form of alcohol). Recent lab tests have shown that no heavy metals were detected in the sealant, including lead, arsenic, mercury, or chromium.

Not a Sacrifice: In the Pacific Ocean, Greenpeace is tracking a "trash vortex" the size of Texas (268,820 square miles or 696,200 square kilometers) in which an estimated six kilos of plastic for every kilo of natural plankton is floating endlessly in circles between the continents. Many of these pieces of plastic are plastic utensils, most of which will not breakdown during the "lifetimes of the grandchildren of the people who threw them away." http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/. What's more, many of these plastic forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks are made of new plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that acts as an endocrine disruptor, which may mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Phthalates, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, also appear regularly in these new plastic utensils. In 2008, the United States National Research council recommended that the cumulative effect of phthalates be investigated. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Our To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set in WEAVE Case is dishwasher-safe, durable, and 100% biodegradable. The fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks are as functional as any plastic utensil, enable you to eat on the go, make a great green gift, and they come without the stress on the environment and the worry of unknown side effects to your health.

Feature List

• One (1) bamboo fork, one (1) bamboo knife, one (1) bamboo spoon, and one (1) set of bamboo chopsticks
• Dishwasher-safe utensils
• Hand-finished with top grade, natural, food-safe wood oil
• One (1) embroidered brown case hand woven by Burma refugees; machine wash cold
• No BPA, PVC, or phthalates
• 100% biodegradable

Ships in 1-3 Days

Color: Blue
Weight: 1 ounce
Description: Replacement blades and foils for the Freedom Shaver, a self-powered, rechargeable, 3-head rotary shaver that offers a full shave with one minute of winding
Manufacturer: Wind ‘N Go