Dutch designer Mieke Meyer has developed a process that transforms used newsprint, misprints and print over-runs into a material that possesses many of the characteristics of the wood from which it came, including grain and structural strength.

Meyer created the material and process while studying at the Design Academy Eindhoven in cooperation with the Dutch company Vij5.

A few pieces from Vij5′s KrantHout Collection are pictured above and below. The pieces were created by a variety of designers. In April 2011 the first prototypes were presented at an exhibit in Milan. (more…)

According to a Federal Trade Commission regulation, (since 2009) bloggers who accept freebies must disclose this info to readers, yet print writers who, generally speaking, receive much more “valuable” booty, do NOT need to disclose this info to their readers. Abiding but having considered the distinction very unfair, I nearly fell off my chair when this New York magazine revelation flashed across my screen:

Bloggers at Racked asked FTC Lawyer Tracey Thomas about the situation, and Thomas’ answer blew me away: (more…)

Hitting all the right notes – these cuff-style bracelets are handmade by a San Francisco-based artist, utilizing a combination of tubular shaped beads. Hand rolled paper beads created from vintage sheet music alternate with guitar string beads. The framework wire is flexible enough to fit a variety of wrist sizes, yet strong enough to keep its shape. Available in bronze or steel; ($48/$42) @ etsy.com

Check out this cool solar powered gadget: The Hybrid Solar Lantern uses innovative technology that allows the lantern to generate power from any light source and store it. This environmentally friendly portable light can be charged in the sun or via artificial light and holds that charge for years – eliminating the need for costly batteries that cause landfill pollution.

This lantern can be used off-grid at home, on your boat, or on camping trips. This extremely durable light source is guaranteed for life. It even floats! A full charge under direct sunlight allows for 10 hours of light. There is a backup battery included that has a seven year shelf life. This guarantees that the light will function perhaps when needed most – during emergencies.

Features of the Hybrid Solar Lantern include lights that indicate when it is charging, using solar power, or using backup battery power. So stop wasting money and simplify your lifestyle with the Hybrid Solar Lantern priced at $34.95.

It’s a great way to minimize your carbon footprint, and eliminate the need to plug-in or use battery-powered lights or lamps.

There’s a new line of plant containers by Bacsac that are 100% recyclable and made of permeable geotextile, to prevent asphyxiation of the soil and promote plant growth.

Super lightweight, they’re designed to go wherever you go.

• The Sac by Sac is a weightless and portable garden in a bag that follows you everywhere — inside the house, outside on the terrace, the balcony, in the garden … or atop your car.
• The Garden box is a new square garden for the city and countryside. Grow your own herbs, berries or veggies this summer and enjoy that fresh goodness and beauty.
• The Flower Pot is weightless, flexible and user-friendly, for plants or flowers.

Find them all @ matteriashop.com.

The efficiency, cost savings and beauty of a prefab home … Stillwater Dwellings, a leading designer and builder of sustainable, contemporary prefab homes, today announced the completion of a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,600 square foot prefabricated home – featuring a uniquely soaring butterfly roofline – in Santa Barbara, California. The home features a wide array of eco-friendly and energy-efficient systems, and several custom modifications unique to the owners.

Of primary importance to the homeowners, it was designed in a simple, straight-forward process, built off-site in a controlled environment, and completed for an up-front, fixed price that was a fraction of site-built alternatives.

(more…)

The environment is one of the hottest issues around right now; and as awareness of climate change grows and people become more concerned about their own impact on the world, there’s a growing range of environment jobs available. This makes it an exciting, dynamic area of employment to get involved in. What’s more, it’s really diverse, so no matter your previous experience and qualifications, you’re sure to find various jobs in Bristol within the environmental sector or in the rest of the UK.

So, what are some of the typical environmental jobs you can expect to find in the UK? (more…)

Ah, SUMMER!  When summer comes, everything looks brighter and better, cheerier and happier. You feel as though life will go on again at last and the world of endless possibilities lies ahead of you. Picnics and barbecues, hikes in the hills and jaunts to the beach. Weekend get-aways, pool trips, biking through the valleys and nightly ice cream runs – right? Well, mostly. Minus the 8 hours a day in which you’re stuck at your office in front of a computer, yeah? Yeah, I know the feeling.

When summer is staring you in the face, walking into work can make you feel like hitting your head against the wall, or computer, whichever happens to be closer. To get you through those 8 hours without giving up on summer completely, try some of these tips and tools to bring summer to the office. (more…)

• Many Americans achieve this state while watching ‘Dancing with the Stars’…How Zombie Ants Lose Their Minds (photo above)- livescience
• Peak water. The coming water shortage will mean big business…Nestle Advocates Water Trading – reuters
• Cool story Mr. Krulwich…The Loneliest Plant in the World – npr
• No joke. What you save at the electric meter you can spend at the hospital…‘Coal Cares’ Hoax Targets Coal Industry – msnbc
• Not an animal lover among them? We can expect the GOP to try to kill this. Feds Announce Reviews for 251 Imperiled Species – yahoo! news
• An ad man’s wet dream…Faking it. Can Ads Create False Memories of Products? – sciencedaily