Posts Tagged biodegradable

Measuring Your Plastic Footprint

“With climate change and carbon dioxide emissions dominating the environmental conversation much of the time, the issue of plastic pollution tends to get short shrift. Still, the problem is worrying enough to be stirring serious concern among environmental and scientific experts, especially when it comes to plastic that ends up in the oceans, where it never quite biodegrades and can form a swelling gyre of sludge.

Beach and river cleanups simply no longer suffice. With plastic consumption growing, some are calling for a bigger-picture attempt to reduce wasteful use of plastic, increase recycling and raise awareness that plastic is essentially stored petroleum. Enter the Plastic Disclosure Project, an initiative that echoes the well-established Carbon Disclosure Project.”

Measuring Your Plastic Footprint via Bettina Wassener – NY Times

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Bon Ami Brings Back 125-Year-Old Cleaning Cake To Celebrate Anniversary, Commitment To Non-Toxic Ingredients



Bon Ami is celebrating its 125th anniversary by issuing a limited run of its original 1886 Formula Cleaning Cake

KANSAS CITY, MO. – May 26, 2011 Bon Ami is celebrating its 125th anniversary by issuing a limited run of its original 1886 Formula Cleaning Cake, once a staple in households across America.

A symbol of the company’s long-standing commitment to natural ingredients, only 1,886 cakes are available, sold online at www.bonami.net and www.alice.com while supplies last. Made from the same recipe of ground feldspar and tallow soap developed in the 1880s, the cakes are pressed, cured and cut into bars by hand.

Bon Ami has a tradition of thoughtful, thrifty products. In the late 19th century, most household cleansers were harsh and abrasive. Bon Ami’s innovation came from taking the softer mineral feldspar, a waste product from quartz mining, and combining it with mild tallow soap to create a cleanser that polished away dirt and stains but was also gentle on surfaces and people.

While the cake fell out of favor in more modern times, the recent cultural return to both thrift and thoughtful home keeping, and steady requests by fans to bring back the product inspired Bon Ami to make a limited batch.

Like the 1886 Original Formula Cleaning Powder, available in can-form year-round in hardware stores, the Cleaning Cake is a household workhorse, cleaning old glass windows, tile, stainless steel, mirrors and pots and pans, yet it’s simple ingredients are biodegradable. To use on most surfaces, simply wipe a damp sponge or cloth across the cleaning cake, then use the cloth to clean. Then rinse with water until the shine comes through. No paper towels required – just a little elbow grease. One cake is good for hundreds of cleanings.

“Households used this product for more than a century. It’s not only effective, it’s truly one of the most thrifty and ecological products for cleaning,” said Carolyn Beaham West, Bon Ami’s brand ambassador and a member of the family owners. “It requires no fancy technology to use, has minimal, recyclable packaging, is versatile and lasts for months.”
The cakes are sold for $9.99 packaged in a beautifully designed paper box, which uses no glues or sealants. A commemorative tin with a cleaning cloth will be available later this summer for $14.99.

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About Bon Ami
Founded in 1886, Bon Ami weathered the Great Depression, chemical revolution and an endless stream of fads by keeping its products simple. The Bon Ami anniversary 1886 Formula Cleaning Cake joins a full line of natural household cleaners, which last year grew to include liquid cleanser, all purpose spray and dish soap, in addition to the popular flagship “yellow can” Powder Cleanser and “red can” 1886 Formula Cleaning Powder. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Bon Ami is an independent, family-owned company. Its products are available in hardware stores and grocery stores nationwide.

For more information about Bon Ami visit www.bonami.com and www.facebook.com/bonamiclean.

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What’s Really ‘Green’ in the Confusing World of Mattresses? Part I

“Last fall, I began work for my first client in the “green” mattress industry, Spaldin Sleep Systems. To familiarize myself with their products and the current state of sustainability in the sector, I researched Spaldin’s materials and certifications and developed a competitive landscape matrix. I dug into the websites of over a dozen top green mattress brands and read peoples’ blog and forum questions and comments about green mattress motivations. I also led a team that staffed Spaldin’s booth at Green Festival in San Francisco, where we heard dozens of green mattress questions and concerns first-hand.

What I’ve learned is that while there are many exciting advances happening in what’s historically been a polluting industry, the mattress sector is drowning in the same kind of greenwash that plagues other industries.  The marketing language on mattress makers’ and  retailers’ websites too often features vague, unsubstantiated claims, resulting in confusion about what these claims really mean in terms of measurable, verifiable benefits to the health of ecosystems and people.”

What’s Really ‘Green’ in the Confusing World of Mattresses? Part I via Jonathan L. Gelbard, Ph.D. – Triple Pundit

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Business of bringing clean water to world

“Shakira Niazi is grateful for the life she has lived.

Having escaped Afghanistan as a preteen, Niazi, now 40, has since lived the American dream. She received an MBA, drove a Maserati, earned an average of $250,000 a year in the mortgage banking industry, and both her children attend private high school De La Salle in Concord.

Then, last March, during World Water Day, she stumbled upon a report released by UNICEF about access to clean drinking water that changed the course of her professional life. In the report, she spotted a map with a little pink dot.

“That is my country of Afghanistan, and that color means that more than 52 percent of its entire population doesn’t have access to clean water,” she said. “Up until last year, I really had no idea. I knew this was an issue, but not to the level that I had just found out.”

Niazi remembers her father subsequently planted the seed by telling her she had to figure out how to build water wells for those in need.”

Read More: Business of bringing clean water to world via David Morill – Contra Costa Times

Note* Salvare La Vita waiter will be exhibiting at the San Francisco Green Festival April 9-10 at the SF Concourse

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The Takeout Store provides biodegradable, compostable disposable tableware

San Jose, CA – February 22, 2011 At The Takeout Store,  disposable tableware products made from Bagasse and Corn Starch are leading the way in replacing wasteful Styrofoam and Plastic disposable tableware to reduce waste on America’s growing landfills.

Bagasse is a byproduct of the sugarcane refining process. It is what is left over after the sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract the juices. Since bagasse comes from the earth it is easily converted by nature into simple, stable compounds that are absorbed back into the ecosystem. One of the many attractive qualities of bagasse is that it is both biodegradable and compostable. Future generations will not be burdened by excessive waste from takeout materials that take thousands of years to break down.

Biodegradable means that the product will break down into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass in a short amount of time. When something is “compostable”, it means that it is made of organic matter that will break down in a compost system or land fill.
Bagasse biodegradable food containers are quickly being recognized as a great eco-friendly alternative to traditional Styrofoam clamshells and plastic plates.

Eco-Forward Convenience

The Takeout Store is proud to be a green promoter in providing biodegradable options and convenience to the local and national community.  Supporting and sponsoring local charity events with biodegradable disposable tableware is a vital element of dedication towards keeping the community green.

“Our mission is to reduce environmental waste and promote sustainability while providing the highest quality biodegradable products available.”  says company owner, Eddy Yee. “Striving to become a zero waste society is an important goal, and biodegradable disposable tableware products play an essential role.”

For more information or to contact The Takeout Store, visit http://thetakeoutstore.com or connect via Facebook and Twitter.

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Salvare La Vita creates local, eco-friendly packaging; seeks to provide worldwide access to drinking water

San Ramon, CA — February 11, 2011 The founders of Salvare La Vita water, meaning “to save lives” in Italian, began with a simple idea: What if an eco-friendly bottled water company in the U.S. could provide clean drinking water for those in need (nearly a billion people) around the world?

They enacted a progressive business plan that would provide 20 years of access to clean drinking water for one person in need per every 31 bottles of water sold. Founder Shakira Niazi wants her organization to be different then other bottled water companies that base their marketing claims in charitable giving.  Visitors to the Salvare La Vita website can Join Our Movement, with the goal to build 10 water wells –supporting 1,500 families in small villages in countries in which over 50% of the population lacks access to clean water (according to UNICEF’S 2010 Report on Water Issues). Salvare La Vita will provide documentation on each sponsored water project using location GPS, pictures, video and information from NGO contacts. The mission for this small, but rapidly growing company is to build water wells in every continent. The first project will take place in Sharberghan, Afghanistan.

Niazi states “while we’re out trying to save the world, it can’t be at the cost of Mother Nature.”  Salvare La Vita strives to minimize its own environmental impact by creating a bottle that is 100% biodegradable as well as recyclable.  The bottles dissolve easily, break down safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into natural raw materials. SLV bottles take a few years instead of thousands of years to decompose.  SLV Water’s bottles can also be mixed into the recycling stream with any other plastic.  Most other plant-based products can only be recycled within their own grade of plastic.

The most important aspect of SLV Water is the water itself. SLV’s great tasting, premium spring water is harvested locally rather than imorted from overseas, a costly and environmentally damaging process. From the product to the packaging, this company is 100% made in the USA.

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gDiapers Wins 2010 Green America People’s Choice Award

San Francisco – Portland Oregon-based gDiapers received Green America’s People’s Choice Award for Green Business of the Year. Certified Cradle to Cradle, gDiapers are plastic-free, elemental chlorine-free, latex free, and perfume free. gDiapers biodegradable gRefills can be home composted, tossed, or flushed. They are the only certified 100% biodegradable diaper and break down in about 3 months, unlike disposables, which can take up to 500 years.

“Winning the People’s Choice Award is the most rewarding accolade we could receive.  Nothing means more to advancing the environmental cause than the collective voice of individuals calling for and believing in change.  We are so very grateful.”  Kim Graham-Nye, President and co-founder, gDiapers. “We couldn’t have done it without all of the amazing moms and dads committed to changing the world, one diaper at a time.”

The People’s Choice Award winners are chosen by individual Green America members across the country, who nominating and vote for their favorite green business. The award was presented at the San Francisco Green Festival.

The top ten finalists this year were:

Brittanie’s Thyme (Cedar Springs, MI)
Digital Hub (Chicago, IL)
Ecobunga.com (San Francisco, CA)
Faeries Dance (Harbor City, CA)
Grounds for Change (Poulsbo, WA)
Hazelnut Kids (Traverse City, MI)
Stay Vocal (Norwell, MA)
Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA)
We Add Up (Wickliffe, OH)

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About Green America
Green America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today’s social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility.  www.greenamericatoday.org

Source: Green Business Network

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ANTIOCHIA Launches its New Eco Wrap Towel Collection at DC Green Festival

Washington, D.C. – September 1, 2010 Antiochia USA LLC, a Maryland-based natural bath and body products company, announces the availability of its new Eco Wrap towel collection at Washington D.C. Green Festival, October 23-24.

“We took the towel used in the traditional Turkish Bath and made it an essential piece of our product line. We called it “Eco Wrap”. This lightweight alternative for thicker terry-cloth towels is in fact a part of a long cultural tradition.” says, Berna Rodman, Owner of Antiochia.

Eco Wrap leaves a smaller carbon print on the planet as it washes easily and dries quickly; using less energy and less detergent than traditional terry towels.

It is very absorbent yet Eco Wrap will take only as much space as a t-shirt in your wash load.

Lighweight and elegant, it can be used as  as a towel or wrap, an after shower cover‐up, or a pareo, cover over a swimsuit.

You can use it anywhere: bath, fitness, beaches, pools, saunas, spas, trips.

Eco Wrap will save space in your suitcase and in your gymbag.

Each piece is woven at traditional hand looms. They are machine washable and can be tumble dried. Antiochia gladly customizes the sizes upon request. The standard sizes include bath towel (30 x 70 in) and hand towel (20 x 39 in).

“Thanks for these amazing towels!  I needed something light-weight and that would roll into a small space to pack into my Navy kit.  I recently spent 2 months on a U.S. Navy vessel where space is limited and getting towels to dry out between using is nearly impossible under normal conditions.” says Will, a Navy officer.

“I just wanted to let you know how much I LOVE my Turkish bath towel.  It absorbs water just like a giant bath towel but doesn’t feel heavy and wet – and it doesn’t take up much room in the washer!!  I love that I can just towel off and wrap it around like a sarong and wear it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried something new and been disappointed – not this time!  Thank you. ” says Eli Burnham, a loyal customer, living in Silver Spring, MD.

About Antiochia USA LLC

Antiochia is the labor of love for three women – mother, daughter and a best friend ‐

who worked, lived and traveled in four continents.

Antiochia products are biodegradable, authentic and environment friendly.

Including:

• EcoWrap – Environment Friendly Tradtional Turkish Bath Towel

• Natural Olive Oil Liquid Soaps

• Natural Olive Oil and Daphne Oil Bar Soaps

• Pumice Stone

• Sisal and Loofah Bath Products

At Antiochia Natural Bath and Body Products, Every single piece is handmade by artisans as it has been for hundreds of years; non‐reliant on high energy consuming production processes.

Antiochia Soap is 100% pure natural; made exclusively from olive oil and laurel oil from untreated trees, from Antiochia, Turkey.

For more information on wholesale, drop-shipping and private label visit www.soapsantiochia.com.  Find Antiochia at Booth #552 at Green Festival DC.

Products made in Turkey; conveniently shipped from Crofton, MD.

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