Earth Friendly

With an estimated 75 billion cans sold every year Coca-Cola is arguably the world’s most recognisable brand. Taking away the trademark colour does look startling, but then so is the environmental impact when all those cans are added up.

Designer Harc Lee’s concept can is made from aluminium without any dyes or paint. A pressing machine is used to make the Coca-Cola logo standout, giving the can a plain, yet familiar appearance.   

Removing colouring from the production process would save not only time and paint, it would also make recycling much more efficient. When totted up, huge amounts of energy and chemicals would be saved. There’s no mention of how you would apply a barcode, but the naked can is certainly an idea too good to be kept under wraps.

This was a guest post from WasteCare Waste Management.

Image Source: http://gizmodo.com/5408251/the-unibody-coca+cola-can

The workings of an incinerator are complex and interesting. If you ever have a chance to take a tour of a local incinerator, don’t let the chance pass you by. In college I was fortunate enough to take a tour: A Look Inside an Incinerator.

Puppies are adorable, but when you’re potty training them, they’re sometimes not so cute. Doggie wipes, pee pads and sanitizers are convenient items to have on hand, but there are greener ways to potty train puppies. Did you know washable pee pads exist? There might even be other eco-friendly puppy training products you don’t know about, so learn more by reading Puppy Training: Ways to Reduce Waste.

Do you ever think about where your trash goes after you bring it to the curb? You might not ever think about it again, but it still exists somewhere. A couple years ago, I had an opportunity to visit a local landfill site, and it literally changed my life forever and how I think about consumerism.

Once you see the amount of trash for one city and how much land it accumulates, it’s overwhelming to try and imagine that amount compounded for the world’s waste. If you ever have a chance to visit a landfill, you should definitely see it in person. This can also be a great learning experience for children so they understand the importance of being frugal. Read more about my experience here .

From 1990-1994, Norman Steisel Deputy Mayor was the First Deputy Mayor of the City of New York. He controlled the management and operation systems as well as the city’s sewage sludge program. In 1992, Norman Steisel Deputy Mayor suggested that the city’s landfill waste be put into eight incinerators to help with the garbage crisis.

While this idea seemed logical and also united the residents of the city, the process would still result in waste (incinerator by-product, which would have to be labeled as hazardous waste).  Eventually the project took on another life that didn’t involve incineration. Later from 1994 to 2003, Norman Steisel Deputy Mayor became President and founder of EnEssCo Strategies, Inc., a consulting company that is currently looking into eco-friendly projects.

One of my favorite Christmas gifts was from my boyfriend. He gave me a Pangea Organics gift box filled with organic soap, body wash and lotion. The best part is that the gift box that it came in can be planted and a spruce tree will grow. This is definitely a great gift for anyone who is eco-conscious.

There are a variety of products you can purchase from Pangea Organics, and it’s definitely worth checking out the site. Their scents are invigorating and natural, and their prices are reasonable too.

Looking into natural and organic skincare is essential for the preservation of your skin, and when you can biodegradable products, it’s even better.

Yes, Christmas will be over shortly, but what is a better time to start planning next Christmas than now? When it comes to giving out gifts, the worst part about it is wrapping them. It’s not that I don’t like to wrap them so they look presentable, but I hate knowing that the wrapping paper will be thrown out and will eventually end up in a landfill. However, I recently found out about a biodegradable wrapping paper that you can plant when you’re done with it because it has flower seeds in it. It’s almost like you are giving two presents in one. This eco-friendly wrapping paper can be purchased at Little Kay Gardens , and it can be used all  year round for holidays, birthdays and other special events.

I guess this week of posts are related to winter…probably because it’s been snowing heavily outside my window while I write them. Anyway, since you might find yourself at home more often, start to be more resourceful so you don’t have to go outside of your home to buy items. For example, use old toothbrushes to scrub stains out of your clothing. Or sprinkle baking soda on your carpet to absorb odors. Since you have the time, start your recycling bins. Put a few under your sink for paper, plastic and glass. Make sure they are big, so you only have to visit the recycling center once every two weeks.

Before we know it, there will be frost on the ground when we wake up in the morning and the air will be cold enough to warrant a jacket. Before it’s too late, purify your home so it’s organized and clean for the new season. Although it’s hard work that’s not fun, it will all be worth it in the end.

Start by cleaning one room each day. Wash the baseboards, fabric and floors with eco-friendly cleaners. Then go through your belongings and create a recycle pile, a sell pile and a throw away pile. Take the recyclables to a local Goodwill and sell the other stuff by having a garage sale. Be thoughtful when you’re going through things.

What you will be left with is a lot more than what you had before the cleaning, because you will have extra cash in your pocket and a clean house.

Reducing your use of paper may be easier than you actually think, especially with the help of electronic devices.

• Instead of using paper to write out lists and notes to yourself, keep them in a palm pilot or in your iPod touch.
• Proofread all of your work before printing it out.
• Use cotton towels to clean your counters and to dry your hands. These can be washed with your laundry whereas paper towels just get tossed away.
• Avoid creating paper copies of files. Scan your documents and recycle them. Keep your files organized on your computer and make sure to back up your work on a flash drive or CD.

How do you reduce the amount of paper you use during the day? Write a comment to let us know.

Photo Credit: Made available by www.isausa.com.