Alu - min -e - um

is how they say it in England...

Here are some new uses for it once it is done covering that pan of brownies...

(or perhaps clean new foil might be best)

Here is the uber-long link:
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1154386,00.html?nid=8515070919-1663159

So - I'm totally stealing from other sites...

Here is a great article on School supplies from the GreenGuide - I subscribe to it in the 'ole email and it is in conjunction with National Geographic.

I'm not entirely sure about the cost comparison between some of these products and their non-earth friendly counterparts - heck, it is hard to beat 25 cent boxes of pencils and pens - even if they come from non-sustainable rainforest trees!

(PS - the links don't work - mostly because I don't feel like adding them - so type them in the old fashioned way if you don't mind!)

Green Guide 121 | July/August 2007 | Checkout Counter

Eco Checklist 2007: Green Gear for the Back-to-School Blues

by David Wortman

Filed under: Home and office supplies, Arts and crafts supplies, Schools, Recycled paper

This school year, eco-savvy kids and parents, aware of the almost four million acres of U.S. forest clearcut annually (not to mention the tons of discarded cell phones), return to store shelves seeking greener academic supplies and electronics. Yet some still find themselves at a loss. "I was recently at a major office supply chain to buy recycled or biodegradable pens and binders," says Ellyn Feerick, a middle school teacher in Danvers, Mass., "but forget about it—they don't exist." Never fear. With some sleuthing, you can find more resources than ever to suit the environmentally minded student.

Electronics

Time for a new PC? Pick energy-efficient products with take-back programs. The Zero Waste Program's Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), which restricts heavy metals and other toxic substances, gives high marks to Lenovo Thinkcentre desktops (from $390; www.lenovo.com, 866-96-THINK) , as well as to Precision and Latitude laptops from Dell, with its comprehensive take-back policies (from $549; www.dell.com, 800-757-8434). Or order a custom-built Energy Star-certified PC from Cade PC (starting at $845; www.cadepc.com, 888-822-3372), which uses lead-free components, offsets its carbon emissions and will take back computers for recycling. And, for a $10 fee, old computer equipment can be recycled at Staples stores, even if bought elsewhere.

Keep cell phones, with their flame retardants and metals, out of landfills. Nokia and Sony Ericsson offer postage-paid return programs for used phones. Recycle your child's old phone with ReCellular (www.recellular.net, 800-441-1544).

When school shopping is done, add up this year's receipts with a TI36X solar calculator from Texas Instruments ($19.99; www.amazon.com).

Packing Lunch

School lunches can leave a mountain of waste, from disposable paper sacks and throwaway plastic packaging to over a half a pound of food waste per person every day.

"Unfortunately, I see more pre-packaged lunches and other disposable items in the cafeteria than I would like," says Feerick. Cut down on wrappers and boost your children's health by loading them up with organic fruits, vegetables and healthier sandwiches.

Avoid hormone-disrupting bisphenol A from #7 plastic water bottles. Pick Klean Kanteen's 18-ounce bottle for lunchboxes ($13.50; www.greenfeet.com, 888-562-8873).

Choose PVC-free wrappings: certified organic or recycled cotton canvas lunch sacks from Ecobags ($6; www.ecobags.com, 800-720-2247); cellophane wrap made from the cellulose of well-managed cottonwood trees ($20.50/12 in. x 110 ft. roll) and biodegradable and compostable forks and spoons made from GMO-free potatoes ($4.25/50 forks or spoons; both from www.greenearthofficesupply.com, 800-327-8449).

Writing Paper and Notebooks

Academic paper use generates mountains of waste—28 pounds per year for each student, teacher and staff member in one New York City school alone. Choose processed chlorine free (PCF) paper, avoiding releases of dioxin and mercury in the bleaching process, and the highest percentages of recycled post-consumer waste (PCW) available.

Office Max 100 Percent PCW Multipurpose paper, PCF ($7.49/500 sheets; www.officemax.com, 800-283-7674)

Ampad 40 percent PCW one-, three- and five-subject notebooks ($5.29-$8.29; www.staples.com, 800-3STAPLES)

Smart Paper Torchglow PCF, 30 percent PCW recycled paper, available in a variety of colors ($5.67/500 sheets; www.greenlinepaper.com, 800-641-1117)

Pens, Pencils, Supplies

EcoWriter 90 percent PCW pencils ($0.25; www.greenlinepaper.com, 800-641-1117) or Forest Choice #2 cedar pencils, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council ($1.99/12; www.forestchoice.com)

Skilcraft recycled plastic medium point pens ($3.42/12; www.greenlinepaper.com, 800-641-1117); biodegradable corn-starch pens ($13.20/12; www.greenearthofficesupply.com, 800-327-8449)

Least toxic, washable and acid-free OIC glue sticks ($1.79; www.staples.com, 800-3STAPLES)

LePage cellulose-based transparent tape ($0.87/roll; www.greenearthofficesupply.com, 800-327-8449)

Folders, Binders and Books

Abundant Earth recycled notebook binders with reusable spine, up to 38 percent PCW content ($9.95/5-pack of 5 covers; www.abundantearth.com, 888-51-EARTH)

1- to 3-ring binders from Sustainable Group, with minimum of 40 percent PCW cardboard (from $47.60/case; www.treecycle.com, 406-626-0200); Oxford 30 percent PCW cardboard report covers ($22.99/box of 25; www.officedepot.com, 800-GO-DEPOT)

Bags, Backpacks and Footwear

Earthpak colorful SMOSHO bag, made from up to 98 percent recycled plastic bottles ($42.95; www.earthpak.com, 888-5-EARTHPAK)

Simple Shoes "feedbags" and backpacks include cotton, jute, wool and recycled plastic bottles ($70-$100; www.simpleshoes.com, 866-896-3708)

Hemp cinch school backpacks, available in regular or "mini" size from Eco Body Wear ($34.99; www.ecobodywear.com); Sierra Club 100 percent certified organic cotton Cinch Sak ($34; www.sierraclub.org, 800-797-6728)

Ecogoods organic cotton socks ($9.95; www.ecogoods.com, 831-429-5758); Splaff flip-flops,100 percent PCW rubber and hemp ($38-$42; www.thegreenloop.com, 866-898-5483)

Once you've bought your children's supplies, encourage the kids to start their own school recycling program. Organize "waste free" classroom or lunchroom days or educate peers to save energy by switching off lights. Inspire class projects and your child's interest in community with The Kids Guide to Service Projects by Barbara A. Lewis and Pamela Espeland (Free Spirit Publishing, 1995, $12.95).

For More Information

* EPEAT, www.epeat.net

* Greenpeace Green Electronics Report, www.greenpeace.org

* Conservatree's Paper Choices Guide, www.conservatree.org

Microfiber cleaning cloths

I've seen microfiber cloths in the stores for a while. Method has a series, and I bought the wood dusting cloth from them first. It works well, but I can only use it on wood surfaces.

I began the search for microfiber cloths at Target. There were the value pack, the Real Simple brand cloths, Method and Rubbermaid. I didn't see the Rubbermaid cloths until last and picked them up, ultimatly because they were the cheapest and there were two in each package. (The value pack had a good price, but without knowing if I'd like them I didn't want a whole package of cloths that I didn't want).

So - I tried out the Green cloths - for general cleaning. I use them to dust our desks, clean the counters - nothing special, but better than scratchy (not to mention the whole... I'm trying to save the world and abusing paper doesn't jive...).

The real surprise was when I tried the glass cleaning Blue cloths! It said that you can use them with or without cleaners. It recommend using just water and the cloth. It is amazing! I recommend using both clothes - one wet, then one dry. I cleaned both full glass exterior doors, all the windows I could reach, the mirrors and the real test - our dining room table top. It removed all of the fingerprints, dried on cake icing and gosh knows what else! No chemicals, just a little water, and not even a lot of elbow grease.

I am going to try the bathroom cloths next...

All in all - I definatly recomment the Blue glass and window cloths, the green ones are ok, but don't do anything that an old cotton tshirt doesn't do (and then it has a second life) except maybe it is lint-less.

At Urban Target, two clothes were $5.99 - not bad, considering a bottle of windex is around $2/bottle and you have to continually by new ones.

Interesting response from Eggland's Best

• My dear friend, Mrs.AB wrote to Egglands Best:

Hello, My name is Mrs.AB and I love your eggs. I just wish they came in packaging I could recycle. Please tell me how you can help, or why you continue to use styrofoam. Thank You,


Eggland's Best response:


Eggland's Best Packaging Recycling
Polystyrene Foam Packaging



Eggland’s Best shares your concern about the environment. We pay
careful consideration to our packaging choices, and only after in-depth
study did we decide to package our Eggland’s Best eggs in polystyrene
foam packaging. We made this decision not only for its superior
protection and merchandising of our eggs, but also for the overall
environmental impact of polystyrene vs pulp paper cartons.

Below are some facts about the recyclability of the Eggland’s Best
egg carton, and some facts we came to know about polystyrene
packaging vs. paper packaging:

• The Eggland’s Best polystyrene carton is recyclable.

• Recycled polystyrene can be used in foam packaging peanuts,
CD jewel boxes, office supplies, video cassette casings, packaging,
and many other uses.

• As more products are packaged in polystyrene foam, more and more
communities are accepting this packaging in their recycling programs.

• If your community does not collect foam egg cartons, you may send
clean Eggland’s Best cartons to our carton manufacturer at: Dolco
Packaging, PO Box 1005, 2110 Patterson Street, Decatur, IN 46733-5005.



Facts you might find Interesting regarding
plastic foam packaging vs. paper packaging

• It takes three times more material in waste paper to make a
pulp carton for a dozen eggs than polystyrene foam.

• Furthermore, the manufacture of plastic packaging requires
less energy to make and results in less pollution than
paperboard counterparts.

• It is a commonly held misperception that paper products,
like pulp egg cartons, degrade readily. This is a true statement
when considering composting programs or when these types
of products end up as litter. The fact is that modern landfills are
covered daily and compacted over time, which means all materials,
including paper products, remain unchanged for many, many
years. In fact, because degradation of materials creates potentially
harmful liquid and gaseous by-products that could contaminate
groundwater and air, today’s landfills are designed to minimize
contact with air and water required for degradation.

• In an article printed in US News and World Report, August 26, 1996,
Stephen Budiansky refers to a comprehensive environmental study
that “found that a plastic cup takes half as much energy to make and
results in 35% fewer pounds of toxic chemicals released into the
environment than a paper cup does. Partly that’s because a plastic
cup uses a lot less plastic than a paper cup uses paper; plastic
products typically weigh one sixth as much as paper products that do
the same job. But it’s also because pulp and paperboard mills, though
much cleaner than in the past, still generate substantial toxic emissions.”

• Also, in the past 20 years, plastic packaging has become 50% more
efficient. In the 1970s an ounce of plastic could hold just 23 ounces of
product, today an ounce of plastic holds 34 ounces of product due to
improvements in strength.


Alice Taylor
Consumer Services Specialist
Eggland’s Best, Inc.
860 First Avenue, Suite 842
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone: 610-265-6500
Toll Free: 800-922-3447
Fax: 610-265-8380
ataylor@eggland.com
www.eggland.com


Doodiepants responds:

I'm sure they had to take into account packaging that protects them from breaking, and I'm sure it would take a lot of paper to pad them adequately. And of course that paper is virgin wood harvested from the depths of the rainforest (or some other mostly non-renewable old wood). And of course it doesn't biodegrade easily when it's piled 16 tons deep in a landfill. BUT petroleum-based items suck in general. Non-renewable resource, habitat destruction, yadda yadda yadda. You know all this. But good for them for finding and creatively using statistics...


I wonder if Eggland's best will recycle ALL of the #6's that I can't seem to recycle anywhere else...

Any companies that are listening:

PLEASE STOP OVER PACKAGING

PLEASE STOP USING #6's WHEN YOU DO "HAVE" TO OVER PACKAGE

With sincere thanks...

omop how I love you...

I am learning to love method cleaning products... not only are they earth friendly, but they are fun to use, look cool, and make the house smell great!

The newest invention: the omop.
I have a new ally in the fight against dog hair.

We have all hardwood floors, so "swiffer-type" clothes help me keep up with the dust and dog hair - but they are icky. They are petrolium based and then you have to throw them away. The omop comes with corn based clothes that collect dust, dog hair etc AND they are compostable! How's that for cool. (I sound like their website)

I purchased the starter kit - $24.99 at Target (cheaper than the method website) it includes:
3 compostable sweeping clothes
The sweeper with cool curved handle
One microfiber cloth
wood for good cleaner (I bought the wood for good set...)



The omop itself is well designed. I love the curved handle, it allows for easy access under the furniture and around, umm, stuff. The handle also helps me put nice even pressure on the floors so I use less cleaning solution and can get the dried up icky stuff, like mud.

For my hardwood there is the Wood for good solution. It smells incredible! I love to clean our floors. It is way better than oil soaps and smells better than vinegar.

For the other floors they make lemon ginger all floor cleaner. I'm not the biggest fan of ginger, but I still like the cleaner. Both bottles are also designed to spray evenly and not to puddle.
Both cleaners are also biodegradable and non-toxic. (Did you know that some cleaners use pesticides? Gross.)




The piece de resistance - the microfiber floor pads. One for the wood floor and one for other types of floors. The microfiber is great, easy to clean and attaches with easy. I've used other types of mops that the pads do not come on and off without some struggle and I usually end up with icky-diaper-pad-that-has-been-on-the-bathroom-floor on my hands.


I love my omop. It has been the best investment for my house in a long time. I have now made the switch to all "green" cleaning products for our home. Laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, cleaners, dusting clothes (the omop compostable ones OR the method microfiber clothes). I'm weaning my household away from paper towels, too.


Please email me with suggestions for future product reviews, if either you have used them or would like someone to try it out!