I guess they do more than play tough football in Green Bay,  Wisconsin — a little company called Green Bay Converting which makes a lot of ‘converted’ or recycled paper products for many national consumer brands is now marketing its own line of eco-friendly recycled paper products, including the new 6-pack of paper towels pictured on the right.

This new Ever-Green Kitchen Towel is packaged as six rolls of sturdy, absorbent and sustainable 2-ply paper toweling made with 100% recycled fiber and is dye, fragrance and chlorine free.  The product’s unique, 100% recycled fiber packaging allows for easy ‘roll forward’ dispensing from two locations on the packaging.  The packaging is also free of any hard-to-recycle plastic wrap and the packaging actually folds-up into one recyclable unit to helps encourage recycling.

The Kitchen Roll Towel pack is the second product in the Ever-Green line. Introduced earlier this year was Ever-Green Bathroom Tissue, a product containing 12-rolls of soft, absorbent, 2-ply bathroom tissue, made from 100% recycled fiber and, like Ever-Green Kitchen Roll Towel, is shipped on a 100% recycled corrugated paperboard pallet.

Ever-Green products are available for purchase at www.letsgogreen.biz and www.greenlinepaper.com, as well as at select retailers in the Midwest and Southeastern United States.

• Leaders Descend on Copenhagen for Climate Talks – npr
• A lot of hot air? The Reality of ‘Climategate’ – livescience
• I always like to start my week with a giant spider video…Huge U.K. Cave Spiders Sent Home – bbc
• German engineering…Lightweight ‘Triple Zero’ House Produces More Energy Than it Uses – scientific american
• Wolf Recovery at Crossroads in Southwest – msnbc
• Even after ‘Climategate’ I still have a hankerin’ for more science…Earth More Sensitive to Carbon Dioxide Than Previously Thought – sciencedaily

These simple yet elegant Sky Planter hanging ceramic planters are designed by Patrick Morris for Boskke.  The upside down pots allow apartment dwellers, or folks trapped in a small home office, to surround themselves will living plants and edible herbs without cluttering up window sills, shelves or desktops.  How did they do it?  A modest locking disc holds the plant and soil in place.

in extra small, small and medium @ greenergrassdesign.com

From ’round the blogosphere, a green stimulus package for your eyes, ears and mind…

• via Metropolis Mag.com (and sponsored by Herman Miller) – call for entries: Next Generation Design Competition: One Fix for the Future, focused on sustainability – enter by January 29, 2010. $10,000 prize plus fame, of course.
• BUST HOLIDAY CRAFTACULAR – 200 vendors busting out with their handmade goods – $2 admission – Sun., Dec 6 (10a-8p) Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St., NYC.  Also in jolly old London and Lala Land on December 12.
• 350.org — see who’s organizing a vigil to help keep the pressure on during the talks in Copenhagen.
• Want to know the score?  Keep up with what’s happening in Copenhagen at the newly launched, www.climatescoreboard.org… climateinteractive.org and twitter.com/climateinteract.
• Go local and knock off a few Christmas gifts for the worthy at Columbus Circle, NYC.  The 6th Annual Holiday Market is open Wednesday, December 2 – Thursday, December 24, 2009.  Monday – Saturday 10a to 8p;  Sundays 10a to 7p.  Or check  Union Square if you’re in that neighborhood.  more @ urbanspacenyc.com
• Remember, December comes but once a year, don’t be a grump, start spreading the cheer.

It’s been a tough year, and like many of us, I’m looking to stretch my holiday dollars this season.  If you’re on a budget, but don’t want to disappoint, here are some cool gift ideas — all under $50, for the loved ones in your life.  So start spreading the green holiday cheer without breaking the bank.

For the Guy that’s…
1. Tech savvy – iGo Power Smart Wall ($29.99)

This wall module automatically reduces wasted standby power by as much as 85%, saving you power without the hassle of unplugging your devices.

2. Always losing his keys – Recycled Inner Tube “To Go” Case ($18)

Made from a recycled inner tube and discarded zipper, this case makes a perfect place to store keys, sunglasses or a cell phone.  Great for guys that seem to always carry too much stuff in their pockets.

3. Very into his beer – Bottle Opener Belt ($15)

With a clever take on multi-functional design, this black web belt doubles as a bottle opener.  It can be trimmed or adjusted to fit just about any beer drinker, so you don’t have to worry about buying the right size.

4. All about art-inspired fashion – Hand Screen Printed Tees from Partybots ($31.95)

Featuring artwork designed by Karl Addison, these hand screen printed tees are made from 100% organic cotton and printed using sustainable methods including platen glue, soy-based cleaners, and screen printing solvents made with renewable soy.  Plus, for every online order, Partybots donates $2 to Mercy for Animals.

5. On the go – Green Perspective’s Green Love for Him Kit ($33)

This eco-travel kit comes complete with organic shave foam, alcohol-free aftershave balm, bamboo socks, travel mug, and a reusable bag made from 100% recycled polyester in which to carry it all.

For the Gal that’s…

1. A fitness guru – Lotuspad Yoga Mat ($40)

Unlike traditional yoga mats that are made from polyvinyl chloride (yuck!), these yoga mats are made from ThermoPlastic Elastomer (TPE), a 100% biodegradable and photodegradable, lead-free, and latex-free material.  Plus, its construction is designed to resist sweat, bacteria, and fungus.  Choose from 4 different shades.

2. A fan of DIY projects – Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed and Organic Materials: Plus Tips and Resources for Earth-Friendly Stitching by Betz White ($24.95)

This book features 25 green sewing projects, from making an apron from men’s shirts to a tote bag from used Tyvek envelopes.  The looks are contemporary, yet practical.

3. A coffee aficionado – DCI Eco Cup ($9.99)

From the makers of “I am not a paper cup” travel coffee mug, comes the “eco cup,” a single wall porcelain cup with a silicon sleeve and lid that looks just like the usual paper cup minus the wasteful disposal.  A great way to enjoy that coffeehouse experience at work and at home, or bring to your favorite coffee shop and fill up.

4. All about design – Recycled Bike Part Tea Light Holders ($24 for set of 2)

Made from recycled bicycle freewheels and cassette cogs, these contemporary tea light holders make great centerpieces.  Tea light candles included in the set.

5. In need of relaxation – Just the Essentials from the Bottle Earth Company ($40)

This gift crate makes a perfect introduction to the Bottle Earth Company’s natural products, and is perfect for creating that spa experience at home.  It includes organic body cream, aromatherapy mist, natural and organic soaps, plus a small organic loofah.

Tip for wrapping presents: Instead of using wrapping paper, try cutting out old newspapers, maps, magazines and catalogs and pasting them on an old shoe box to make a unique collage.  It’s a great way to re-use paper and personalize gifts.

• I think we just saw this with Tiger Woods…What Happens When a Gigantic Star Blows Up? – sciencedaily
• How do you spell “obfuscation”? Stolen Climate Change Emails Cause Ruckus in Congress – npr
• Stop burning the rainforest and start making $$…Amazon is Best Site for Forest Investments – nature.com
• No glacier, no H2O…Glacier Threat to Bolivia’s Capitol – bbc
• ‘Roxanne’ should switch her ‘red light’ to a CFL…Sting Rejects Eco-Hypocrite Label -ecorazzi
• Re-think that evolution-altering winter bird feeder…Human Feediing Creates New Population of Birds – livescience

Geneseo, NY-based wind turbine maker, WindTamer, has developed a new, small wind turbine that features a ducted rotor design which the company says will significantly outperform traditional open blade turbines.  Company field tests indicate that the turbine (which they say broke the Betz Limit) can operate with twice the efficiency of any open rotor turbine currently on the market – with its 52-inch model producing 3,000 kWh per year with an average wind speed of 16mph; and its 93-inch rotor model producing up to 10,000 kWh per year.

The DAWT, or Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine design, uses the wind to induce rotation, as conventional wind mills do, and then utilizes a sophisticated bypass system that harnesses one vacuum that forms internally behind the blades and a second vacuum that forms externally to assist rotation, delivering unmatched velocity and efficiency.  The WindTamer boasts  a list of product advantages including: high output, at both low and high wind speeds, near silent operation, rooftop mounting capability, bird safety, low maintenance, and no breaking or furling at high wind speeds.

Eight units have initially been sold.

sources: cnnmoney.com and windtamerturbines.com

UPDATE:  Our 2 winners have been notified and we’re waiting for them to reply before making it official….stay tuned!

Here’s a cool way to shop for freshly made, gourmet food for the holidays.  2 lucky people will each receive a $25 Shopping Certificate to apply toward any purchases from RegionalBest.com by December 18, 2009.
(Please note – this giveaway applies to USA residents only.)

RegionalBest.com is an online food artisan marketplace where you can choose from over a dozen categories of handmade and hand crafted foods from artisans, farmers and small businesses across the USA.  Each artisan’s photo and personal story are featured with each product, so you know who grew or made the product, and with what ingredients. All foods are attractively packaged for gift giving and ship directly from the producer to maximize great taste, quality, freshness and value.  Most of the items are all- natural or organic and sustainably grown.  225 fine foods are available for less than $25.

To Enter this Random Drawing, simply:

• Visit RegionalBest.com and checkout this amazing marketplace.
• Then leave a comment on this post, telling us which artisan appeals to you the most.
• Add the following address to your email address book:  m at AlternativeConsumer.com.

Two lucky winners will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email.  Contest ends Friday, December 11, 2009 at 11:59p (EST).  Winners have 24 hours to claim their prize, or offer is null and void.  Winners’ names will also be included on this post.

*One entry per person.

*EXTRA CREDIT If you have your own blog, you can post about the giveaway with a link back to this giveaway post. To make sure we know, you can come back and leave a comment with a link to your blog post. If you Twitter, you can tweet about the giveaway once a day, and be sure to refer to @altCon, and leave a comment linking to the status. You can also receive additional entries 3 more ways: subscribe to altCon’s RSS feed, follow us on Twitter or friend us on FaceBook. (If you’ve already signed up, just enter a comment to let us know.)
Time’s ticking, so start clicking – Good Luck!

Related:  previously on altCon, (11.11.09)
buy fine foods from regional artisans @ regionalbest.com

Tired of retro-fitting your lamps to accomodate those spiral-shaped CFL bulbs?  Well GE has just announced the addition of traditional shaped CFL’s to its Energy Smart line of bulbs.  GE has developed miniature electronics that allowed them to put a spiral shaped CFL inside a traditionally shaped glass bulb.  The new bulbs will be in energy-saving 9, 15 and 20 watt CFL sizes, which are the equivalent of 40, 60 and 75 watt incandescent bulbs.  The bulbs, which are in stores now, are rated for 8000 hours  – or guaranteed for 5 years of use.  See the light!

source: GE press release