This sustainably produced children’s running bike from New Zealand’s Wishbone Bike, transitions from a tricycle to single-wheeled balance bike as a youngster gets older.

The bike will get a youngster through years 1-5, until they progresses to a pedal-powered bicycle.  Made of certified sustainably harvested wood and intended to become a lifelong family heirloom.

Wishbone pays strict attention to their raw materials and processes, they also minimize and carbon-offset their travel, operate recycling systems in the office and use no plastic in any of their packaging.

find it @ matteriashop

UDPDATE: It’s official – Congratulations to our lucky winner, Sharon McCloud!  Thanks to everyone for participating.  Our next Giveaway begins next week so stay tuned…(original post follows):

Tired of looking like a shlump with mismatched reusable bags in the grocery store?  Looking for stylish bags that can also carry books, dry cleaning or miscellaneous items while traveling?  Then Ecozuri is for you!

We were given a complimentary FORGET ME NOT set, which we love; and now we’re giving away an Ecozuri FORGET ME NOT SET of chic, compact and versatile totes + accessories.

Zuri means “good and beautiful” in Swahili, a language spoken in East Africa – Ecozuri bags are aptly named — they’re eco smart, hip and stylish.

You’ll love the colors, feel and design of these lightweight, washable and foldable bags.  The bags are made from 100% rPET (recycled plastic bottles) that are certified collected and processed in the USA.  Each of the six bags included in the set holds up to 50 pounds.

Used individually, one easily slides into your pocket or attaches to your keychain.  Used as a set of 3 or 6 – it’s perfect for guys, women or your entire family.

Forget Me Not comes with 2 pouches.  Each pouch contains 3 bags in an array of handsome hues — orange, green and blue; gold, green and brown.  There’s a caribiner on the outside pouch that conveniently attaches to your purse, messenger bag, backpack or carryall.  If you’re famous for leaving your reusable bags in the car, there are 2 Forget Me Not reminders that you can velcro to the steering wheel:)

Prize Value:  $38.95 + free shipping to anywhere in the USA or Canada.  A socially responsible company, Ecozuri contributes 10% of their online retail sales to support schools in rural Africa through www.bricksandbooks.org and www.imbaseni.org.

Here’s how to enter:

• visit www.ecozuri.com
• then answer this question by posting a comment here — What interests you most about Ecozuri’s site and products?
• receive extra entries by posting the giveaway to your facebook, twitter or blogs, or become a fan of  ecozuri or alternative consumer on facebook.  Leave a comment & link for each one on this post.  Tweet once per day if you like, just include a link and comment to let us know, @altCon.
• be sure to add  m at alternativeConsumer.com to your address book so that if you win, your email program will accept our Winner’s Notification.
• Enter before Thursday, September 30, 2010; 11:59pm, EST.

As always, we will never share your email or any other info with anyone.

A collection of female street artists called Neozoon creates these animal silhouettes and sculptures out of recycled fur coats.  Hmmm, someone kills and skins an animal ostensibly to stay stylishly warm.  Then someone else takes this pelt and transforms it back into the shape of an animal...

Is this a proper use for upcycled animal pelts?  Is it art?  Is it a political statement?  Is it a manifestation of the common perception that animals are products and objects? Is it PETA approved?

The organization’s Web site is comprised primarily of photo collections and videos of their arts street exhibitions and collections.  We have inquired about more info. Thought provoking, no?  (more…)

• Exactly when did science become the bad guy? 2010 Tied With 1988 as Warmest Global Temperature on Record – sciencedaily
• It’s too hot…World’s Coral Reefs Face 2nd Major Global Die-Off – nyt/msnbc
• New value in post-consumer afterlife…Chevy Volt Batteries Could Enable Renewable Energy Solutions – prnewswire
• What’s not to love? It’s in upstate NY, it looks like a chicken coop and it saves skads of energy…Yahoo! Opens Chicken Coop Green Data Center – ubergizmo
• File under “just plain dumb”. Devil in Details? Christine O’Donnell Dabbled in Witchcraft – livescience
• Survey says…Americans Love Their Computers…But Love Mac Best – cnn
• Walmart to Install Thin-Film Solar Technology at Stores – reuters
• Photos: World’s Biggest, Strongest Spider Webs Found – natgeo

Hate all the plugs, power cords and adapters cluttering your home or office?  Fujitsu Laboratories recently announced the development of wireless recharging technology that will lead to the creation of magnetic resonance-based wireless charging systems.

This technology not only promises more compact and more efficient power transmitters and receivers, it also offers the ability to significantly reduce the design timeline for creating charging systems.

The technology paves the way to integrating compact wireless charging functions into mobile phones and enabling multiple portable devices to be charged simultaneously without any restrictions on their position with respect to the charger. (more…)

We were in NYC last week catching all the ecofashion runway action at the GreenShows.  With fabrics made from recycled PET, bamboo, cotton and coconut, designer Ashton Hirota of Ashton Michael Black Label, debuted his collection for spring/summer 2011 in all its androgynous glory…

This sustainable green building was designed by Denmark’s C.F. Moller Architects for the manufacturer Saint-Gobain Isover.  “Playhouse” is conceived as an energy -efficient, stand-alone playhouse – or guesthouse.

Playhouse is 4-5 meters long and 3 meters tall.  The tiny house is designed with a distinct leaning profile, featuring large “intelligent” glazing as windows, skylight and solar panel, as well interior lighting employing the latest energy-efficient technology.  The walls contain a specialized, energy-saving insulating glass wool, and triple-layer energy glazing that is conforms to modern passive-house standards.

The small footprint structure is purported to be so well insulated that a few candles suffice for heating, even in winter. The building’s geometric, slanted form evokes a very ‘Scandinavian’ design feel, while also providing the building’s south façade with shade from the summer sun.

Just keeping all you conscious consumers aware of 2 great green deals that expire at the end of today — Monday, September 20.

• Shop Gaiam’s Holiday Catalog (sample page, above) and enter code FALLSAVE for savings:  Spend $75, save 15% on your order; spend $100, save 20% on your order; or spend $125, and save 25% on your entire order. Order must be placed before 11:59pm (MT) today. Link here for this special offer.

• VivaTerra’s 6th Birthday Sale ends today – save 25% on 25 classics, like those pictured just above (bamboo nightie & robe, succulent wreath, vintage slate chalkboard & bamboo knife holder).  TERMS:  Offer is valid only on merchandise tagged “special” and is not valid on previous purchases or phone orders. To receive the discount you must enter the code CLASSIC in the promo code box when you checkout. Offer ends Monday, September 20th at midnight Pacific time. visit vivaterra.com for savings.

In the fast lane of active wear is Canadian-based, modrobes, a sustainable clothing manufacturer of tees, jackets, shorts, pants and skirts for outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who cycle.  Most of the line is created from a mix of recycled plastic bottles + a bit of Spandex for stretchability, with tee shirts made from the eucalyptus tree.

Designed to keep you cool while you pursue your active lifestyle, the Euca Tee has wicking properties; it’s soft, anti-microbial and biodegradable.  take a spin & learn more @ modrobes.com