Did you know that in Ireland in 2002, plastic bags were abolished practically overnight from the consumer shopping scene? If you haven’t seen the stats, Envirowoman rounds up some plastic bag info that’s sure to make you drop the plastic. NRDC provides a re-cap of IKEA‘s moves to rid themselves of the plastic bags, offering customers reusable blue bags for 99cents/each. And yahoonews brings us the latest legislation regarding California’s efforts to bag the plastic.
Making the switch to reusable bags is easy to do. You just have to decide what you’ll use in place of the petro-based horrors.
Hopefully, you already own the perfect re-usable shopping bag — but you just don’t realize it. Perhaps it’s hiding in your closet — either on the floor or on a hard-to-reach shelf: maybe there’s a nice le sac or LL Bean lurking in the darkness, awaiting your grasp. Wouldn’t that be nice? You might uncover a lying in wait tote that you could flaunt on your way to the local market.
If you do need to purchase the perfect reusable shopping bag — first consider your personal, every day needs. How strong does it need to be? Does it need to collapse, roll-up & fold easily; or does it need to hold its shape? Washable? How stylish? Should it be made from sustainable material (hemp, jute, ingeo), organic cotton or recycled material with water or vegetable-based dyes; compost-able? Ideally, the answer to this last, detailed question is, YES! As with all goods,
there are degrees of
green-ness regarding the manufacture of a reusable bag. Here are a few good places you might consider if you need to purchase the “next, eco fashion accessory”…
b. happybags – U.S-based; zippy graphics, cotton; $20.
(pics #2 & 4)
motorcity – recycled fence, ornj $26-60
bags of change – hemp-cotton, UK-based.
downbound – tote style hemp bag, $17.50; & organic cotton $3 & up.
Earthbags- made from jute.
Ecobags – string, hemp, woven, canvas – best selection of produce bags.
Ecoezi – set of 10, washable bags; $21.95/set.
Eco-handbags.ca – reusable shopping bags as well as eco chic handbags. free US & Canada shipping.
Ecoist.com – totes from recylced rice bags
Ecolution – for wholesalers only.
Ecosilk – Australia-based; nice Alpha Bags, solid colors.
Ecosafe Bags – Australian-based; wholesalers.
Environment Bags available to wholesalers.
Envirosax – eco-friendly, fold-able, sets of 5; (pics #1 & 3).
flip&tumble – 24-7 @12/each, great colors
greenfeet.com – chico & string bags.
hip&zen – more like handbags than shopping bags.
I’m Organic – certified organic totes. free shipping over $75.
I’m Smitten – unique, stylish graphics.
Krata – OneLessPlasticBag – unique, double-fold pocket
and from the UK.
Natural Collection – UK-based. “support local foods” washable cotton canvas; and GreenPeace’s Little Green Bag for groceries.
POSCH bags from UK-based, Natural Store. Handmade from vintage fabrics.
rawganique – 100% hemp shopping bags.
reusablebags.com – high eco-friendly factor; many stylish options; practical shapes; some with wheels.
SierraClub – great selection of bags; $20-$38 totes & cinch styles.
tree2mydoor.com – jute bags, stylish and nice selection of sizes, shapes & colors. (more…)
Sometimes a vegan has to climb something, hike somewhere or just be out in the wild. Nature is where it’s at. A good looking vegan hiking boot is essential for any serious exploration.
$125.06 @ zappos.com
These Wiley JP-2 light sensitive sunglasses are for the serious sports enthusiast, and/or those who want only the best care of their precious eyeballs. Wiley makes shades and frames for military as well as consumer eye-wear customers, so these sunglasses are super-tough. Three lens configurations are available for this line — from Polarized, to shatterproof SeleniteTM, to LATM – Light Adjusting for day and night.
The innovative Seal-Tek™ system with soft Facial CavityTM Seals protects your eyes from dust and debris. Their technology allows you to determine the configuration. The result is comfortable, durable eye-wear that provides clear, unobstructed vision in any light, and great eye-protection at all times. Meets ANSI Z87.1-2003 High Velocity Standards, provide 100% UV protection. The light sensitive model goes from 85% clear to 17% shaded.
Wiley also offers prescription lenses.
$135 @ wileyx.com
Earlier this month we posted that Energetech’s Australian wave power plant had gone online. In researching that story we discovered that Energetech is also working on a pilot project to build and install a wave power plant off Point Judith, Rhode Island. Project GreenWave is a non-profit pilot, with funding from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. If this pilot project were successful, it would become the first wave power installation in the U.S.
The $3.5 million project got underway in 2003 with sediment sampling and underwater surveying and analysis — with much of the analysis being done by the University of Rhode Island and its renowned ocean-graphics department. Energetech is currently preparing for a FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) filing and is hopeful about the project’s progress, though they make no estimate of when the plant might go online. As with any first-of-its-kind project involving coastal installation, federal and state agencies have to create a system for project approval and permits — so there is still a level of confusion over who has regulatory jurisdiction for wave energy projects in the U.S., which has slowed the approval and installation process.
Analysis has shown Point Judith to be an ideal location due to local wave and geological structure, proximity to the power grid, and ease of installation (less than a week). The station itself would be located just outside the Point Judith breakwater and about a mile offshore. Care is being taken not to disrupt commercial ship traffic or recreational boaters. The station will be designed to: withstand “100 year storm criteria”, be easily towed to port, make 100 times less noise than an outboard motor; and have only one moving part — the turbine.
Ultimately, wave power may provide a great source of clean, sustainable power for coastal communities and regional power grids. With Washington’s invigorated interest in, and funding of alternative energy projects, perhaps the hearing and permit process for this type of project can be streamlined and fast-tracked. The Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound has served to illustrate how controversial an ocean-based alternative power project can be. One can only hope that less obtrusive wave power installation proves to be both energy rich and controversy poor.
If you’re into pain, here’s a link to FERC’s filings on the project:
FERC online
more @ energetech
John T. Unger has created these cool luminaries from 100% recycled cans. The creation of these pieces using a welding torch takes a fine hand and quick drawing skills to avoid the can going up in smoke and ending up a molten pile of goo. John T. designs things from recycled and repurposed materials to avoid adding to the already cluttered inventory of our society.
Art meets atmosphere to create romantic, spiritual or
spooky lighting effects and
images. You can even use
them to light a path.
other features:
- great indoors or out
- signed by the artist
- weatherproof
- no sharp edges
- holes in the bottom for drainage
$20 bucks each or 10 for $150
get ‘em @ artbuzz
Tomorrow, Sunday, March 25 at 8p. Five years in the making, don’t miss the premier of Planet Earth, the much anticipated 11-part Portrait of the Planet on Discovery Channel. Visit here for a sneak peek.
And be sure to catch Journey to Planet Earth: State of the Ocean’s Animals, hosted by Matt Damon — Wednesday, March 28, 8pm on PBS. more here.
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