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Articles in the ‘Sustainable Materials’ Category
By Anny on May 25th, 2013
Just Soap is pure soap-free from any cosmetic chemicals and toxins which are harmful for your health. Soaps and bod lotions come in direct contact with the skin for an extended period of time and this makes your exposure to harmful chemicals all the more higher. The used water contains all of these chemicals which are often let out into the environment. This brand of pure soap is 100% organic and is completely eco-friendly-making it safe for your skin and also for the environment. Another unique feature in the manufacturing process which needs to be emphasized is that the makers blend it by bicycle-as blending is a time-consuming process which requires a lot of power. A special device which is driven by a pair of pedals rotates the blenders to create the soap.
The soap contains the purest of olive oil, coconut and palm oils and special herbal ingredients inaunique formulation that gives you the very best of nature. Individual soap bars are cut in a wooden press and are cured for almost two months to allow the ingredients to settle down completely. The soap is mild and is contains natural moisturizers. It conveniently pricedwithout the often heavy pricing associated with eco-friendly products that we often come across. The bars are made from natural glycerin and do not use any chemical hardeners. They are also never tested on animals but should be used with care in people with sensitive skins. You get to choose from different fragrances such as Lavender, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Sage, Lemon peppermint and a special Almond cornmeal extract along with a special formulation for gentler skin types. They also have a collection of salves as well as lip balm apart from a cool range of organic Tees made from bearing their brand.
You can also check out a shampoo bar which is made from almond, jojoba and castor oil extract. Their range is certified by Bay State Organic certifiers which stand as a testimony to its pure ingredients.
You can buy them online at their website by accessing the below link. They are located in Ashfield Massachusetts.
http://www.justsoap.com/
By Anny on May 23rd, 2013
Nature Bag is a multi-purpose tote bag made from JungleVine cord obtained from Laos in Vietnam. Its crafted by an ethnic minority in one of the poorest regions of South Asiaand the project is funded by a group comprising of veteran disabled Americans. Bags made from the cord where originally used by the Khmu indigenous tribe to carry their essentials and while hunting. This should give you a fair idea of how rugged the bag would be.
The JungleVine fiber has been used since ages as skin conditioning cloth and is said to have a healing effect on pores, wrinkles etc. It very strong ad lightweight and is dirt and stain resistant. The fabric maintains its strength and shape even after prolonged usage and exposure to damp environments. It’s quite suitable for making a heavy duty and attractive tote bag. The site also sells the JungleVine cord as a fabric so that you can try using it in your designs. The fabric is priced at $1.00 and contains a unit of cloth no lesser then 7 grams and 10 cms in length.
The bag comes in various shapes and sizes along with many attractive design patterns. It’s a perfect alternative to plastic bags as the material is derived from a natural source and is bio-degradable. It also provides a livelihood to the economically deprived community where most of the people are into this craft. The range is priced from $15 to $75, depending on the pattern and size.
The bag can be purchased from their website at the bellow link. You can also use the store locator link in their website to locate a retailer near you. It’s sold in USA, Italy, Canada, Thailand, Singapore and France. We also suggest apparel and accessory designers to check out their fabric sample to see if it can be used for making accessories for our daily life.
Link: http://www.naturebag.org/
By Anny on May 21st, 2013
Only Natural Pet store was established in 2004 in Colorado and is an online store dedicated to natural pet product, organic foods and holistic remedies for pets. It offers natural supplements and flea control products, as well as a whole range of pet accessories designedto be safe for your pet as well as the environment without any cosmetic ingredientsand additives. Pet accessories are made from eco-friendly products and green manufactures. They use carbonneutral shipping and have a 100% wind powered manufacturing faculty using recycled paper for packaging.
A dedicated support team which can be contactedboth by email and phone allows you in selecting the right kind of a product for your specific need. The site also has a large collection of articles in their Holistic Healthcare library section. You can also ask a question totheir online veterinary board of advisors.
Their main range of products include flea and tick products, food and nutritional supplements, treats and chews as well as holistic health care products. You can also shop by a heath category and can choose from aromatherapy oils, flower essences, herbal remedies for various medical conditions for cats and dogs.
The site offers free shipping on orders above $69 on a select range of product purchased from their website. You can also choose the product to be automatically delivered to your address at a choice of intervals. This enables you to make a one-time selection on periodic purchases such as food and grooming products, and they would be delivered as per the frequency you select. Not only does this save time, but you also qualify for a special discount on their products.
For more information on this exciting range of organic and holistic pet products and nutritional supplements, please access their website at www.onlynaturalpet.com.
By Anny on May 19th, 2013
West Paw designs has an awesome range of pet toys, apparel and furnishings in a eco-friendly range of products which have been certified by Oko-Tex Standard 100 after being tested for harmful ingredients. They are safe for your pets as well as for the environment. The furnishings and apparel range are made mainly with Inteliloft® which is made from recycled plastic and other sustainable materials in eco-friendly manufacturing processes.
Their amazing range of very strong pet toys is made with Zogoflex- a 100% recyclable material that is very durable. They credit their range to last for a lifetime and if doesn’t-a free one-time replacement is offered. West paw designs also uses organic and reclaimed cotton, along with US grown catnip for their cat products. Do also check out a latest range of dog beds made from hemp.
You can buy different varieties of toys for your dog’s such as chews, unstuffed toys as well as a rugged range of toys for the tougher ones. Also available are a range of beds, mats, sweaters as well as seasonal dog toys. Cat lovers can choose from interactive and catnip toys and many more. There are also cat beds and mats as well as seasonal gifts. The site also has a collection of blankets, Tees and tote bags for pet owners.
You can view all of their collection and can also purchase online from their website. The site also enables you to search for a retailer in USA and Canada. They are based in Montana.
Link:westpawdesign.com
By Anny on May 17th, 2013
Pets need a whole lot of personal care products like soaps and shampoos to make them stay clean and healthy. But unlike we humans who can understand the toxic effects of a substance and choose a better alternative, pets do not have the choice. Hence, it’s of utmost importance that we choose safe and sustainable products for pets which would not harm them in the long run.
Common chemical ingredients which are often found in personal care products are also used in products for pets, albeit in a higher dilutions. These includes artificial detergents, perfumes, propylene glycol, laurylsulphates and many more which do come with associatedhealth concerns. Let’s take a look at a safe and eco-friendly range of pet products from olivegreendog.com.
The site has collection of Shampoos, conditioners and gels and lotions for cleaning Ears, paws, eyes and nose of your dog. All of them are made from certified organic products in an eco-friendly process and contain well-known and tested natural ingredients such as tea tree oil, Avacado, Oatmeal, neem and many more. These ingredients ensure that your pet receives a healthy and organic care without any cosmetic chemicals and toxic ingredients. Their manufacturing practice also eliminates any chance of wastage and inherent pollution and is packed using low impact packaging using recycled boxes and biodegradable packing peanuts. This ensures that your product is safe for the environment as well as for your furry companion.
While browsing the site we also came across a whole range of pet accessories ranging from toys, blankets, treats and chews, clothing, collars and many more common pet items that you would periodically need for your pet dog. They also have a special section on dog foods featuring some of the topmost brands. The site also has a section especially for cats. This is one store where you can buy all your pet supplies with a complete assurance on the organic quality of its products. The online site is active since 2008 and is operates from Texas. It’s a member of Organic trade association and green America.
By Anny on May 7th, 2013
Elis and Kresse are a designer duo who create innovative accessories from recycled fire hoses in Britain. They source this hoses from various fire brigades and after they have been retired and set to be disposed, and process it into an unique material that is used to create belts, bags and many more accessories. What’s more- these accessories which have been made from a robust and durable source are very easy to maintain, and can be cleaned with any Eco-friendly furniture polish. These accessories are not heavy, and are of the same weight as any other similar accessory made from leather etc.
The duo have been instrumental in recycling almost 155 tons of fire hose waste. They also use recycled materials such as coffee sacks, lens boxes, used newspapers etc for packaging .The finishing materials is also made from recycled materials such as used office furniture, waste parachute silk etc. This makes the whole concept and their creations very Eco-friendly as the choose to recycle waste and constructively use in their design.
You can check their website for their range of accessories such as bags, totes, belts, straps, wallets, iPhone and Blackberry cases, cufflinks( You can personalize them to) and may more. Their creations are also retailed across major stores in many countries. You can check their site to view their retailers at a place near you. You can also order from their website and have it shipped to your address.
They also are committed to improving the society and have partnered with “Remploy”-which is a social firm offering employment to people with disabilities. 50 % of the profits from products made with recycled fire hose are donated that to Fire Fighters charity. Do check out this unique and impressive range at the below line.
http://www.fire-hose.co.uk/
By Anny on May 5th, 2013
Resins are compounds that are used to patch, fill and join surfaces and contain a high degree of adhesive properties that enable them to form a solid patch upon drying. World over they are used in industries, construction, automobiles etc. Within your home-you would be using a resin to fix a leaking pipe or join your broken furniture. Resins are also used in the manufacture of polymers and plastics and are also used in varnishes.
Resins are primarily sourced from natural sources such as the sap of certain trees which form a solid mass upon drying. However, within the last century, there has been an increased production of chemical resins which are called as synthetic resins. Not only are they more easy to manufacture, but are also more sturdy then natural resins and can be used on a vast variety of surfaces. However, as with any chemical product, particular art hose engineered for a special need, there is always a danger of the pollution it causes while being used or produced. Also, the product can be at time harmful to heath.
Let’s look at some Eco-friendly alternatives for resins. Eco-green resins is a manufacturer of Eco-friendly resin and putty which is deemed as a green resin solution for a variety of needs. Eco Green Resins, LLC based in Nevada was founded by Arthur Katzakian, Craig Katzakian and Brandon Newell. Their products are used in diverse applications such as for desalination of salt water, household and industrial uses and many more.
Their flagship product Eco-green resin is sourced from vegetable oils and natural sources, and does not contain any harmful chemical constituents. It has 43% bio-content and comes with minimal shrinkage in normal uses. It can be used for Composites, Coatings and also as an adhesive and a sealant. It does not contain substantial amounts of VOC’s and is virtuallynon-toxic.
Do also check out Magic Fixer repair putty which is an epoxy system that can bind metal, plastics, cardboard, glass, wood and other such materials. The putty can be used in your house to fix broken pipes, furniture, crockery etc and can also be used in industrial uses and in automobiles.
You can purchase them online from their site in handy containers beginning from 24 oz kits. Free shipping is offered within USA. Over seas customers can directly contact them for orders outside USA.
By Anny on April 29th, 2013
Sustainable fashion is a collective term for an Eco-friendly and ethical form of fashion design which can involve using organic materials, decrease or omit chemical usage, not using animal product, generating a lesser carbon footprint and also creating an ethical business process. The idea behind sustainable fashion is to create a safer, healthier and naturally derived range of apparel. Let’s take a brief look into a few fibers which are being widely used in Eco-friendly and organic clothing ranges.
1) Jute: Jute is the second most widely cultivated textile crop after cotton and has been traditionally used for bags and sacks. Newer varieties of jute are being widely used in apparels, furnishings etc. Jute fiber is strong, durable, bio-degradable and is sound and heat insulating
2) Flax: Flax fibers are soft and lustrous and are used for delicate clothing needs. Flax is generally less elastics then cotton but is stronger.
3) Hemp: Hemp fiber was traditionally used in making ship canvas. It has a texture similar to linen and is now being widely used in clothing ranges as well as for packaging sacks.
4) Bamboo: Not many of us are familiar with the fact that a fiber can be extracted from the Bamboo shoots which has natural anti-microbial qualities. It’s now being used in clothing as the unique fiber allows the skin to breathe through the fabric there by reducing perspiration.
5) Ramie: Ramie is one the oldest fiber crops and has been used since the ages to make coarse fibers. It’s very strong and cloth made from Ramie doesn’t wrinkle much and is lustrous. It usually is blended with other fibers such as cotton, wool etc.
6) Abaca: Abaca is a variety of the banana plant and is mainly found in Philippines. It’s used in making handicrafts and also a variety of paper which is used in tea bags. Abaca has been recently used in making regular apparel too.
7) Kapok: Kapok is also called as Java cotton and is a fiber which is derived from the seed pods of the plant. It extremely light-weight then cotton and can support up to 30 times it weight. It very fragile and cannot be spun and is mainly used for stuffing and for special king of clothing required for diving.
We also see the term organic cotton being widely used nowadays. It means cotton which has been cultivated without the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides, and consequently does not cause any pollution to the environment
By Anny on April 23rd, 2013
Bamboo accessories are fast becoming a fashion trend as the raw material can be easily sourced and used in multiple ways. One such electronic consumable application of bamboo is the Bamboo Bluetooth keyboard from iZen. The use of bamboo does away with plastic panel which often end up in landfills or is incarcerated. Not only does this reduce the pollution associated with using plastics, but also reduces the carbon footprint for the product manufacturing cycle as the basic raw material is naturally available.
The device is a wireless keyboard and uses Bluetooth technology to communicate with the computer. It can be used for normal computers, Apple iPad’s, iPhones and Android tablets with Bluetooth protocol. It entirely built with bamboo which includes the case and keys and is both attractive as well as Eco-friendly. The device has a built in rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charges with a USB 2.0 cable which is included in the package. It works well with Mac as well as Windows powered computers and comes in Mac styled keyboard layout along with multimedia keys. The product just weighs 1.1lbs and can be purchased online from http://www.izenbamboo.com/. It costs $9.
Do also check out their other utility product ranges made from Bamboo which include a sleek iPhone case, an Ipad Sleeve, a desktop Bamboo keyboard with mouse and many more. Using Bamboo is an Eco-friendly alternative to plastic and also looks unique and stylish too.
iZen Bamboo is a Colorado based company which uses Bamboo in all its featured product and contributes 1% of its profits to environmental organizations worldwide. Bamboo grows much faster than regular trees and does not require any special soil, fertilizers or pesticides and can be used for diverse applications.
By Anny on April 17th, 2013
Biopolymers are polymers derived from natural sources. One such example is Ingeo, which is derived from sugars produced by plants during the cycle of photosynthesis. Plants convert air, water, nutrients from soil in presence of light to starch, which is the basic constituent of all fruits and vegetables. In an initial stage, Ingeo has been made from corn sugar, but can also be made from any natural sugar source.
It involves synthesizing this sugar into a resin, which is then converted in to fiber and can be used for garments, personal care, appliances and as a bio packaging material. This makes it a natural plastic, which is derived from 100% natural sources, and does not pollute the environment as its biodegradable, Ingeo uses less energy while being produced, which mean lesser emission of greenhouse gases.
Research is in progress to harness other sources of natural sugars, such as from cellulose, agricultural waste, and other plant sources. The carbon footprint during the manufacture of Ingeo is estimated to be 60% less than that from ordinary PET synthesis, and hence is Eco-friendly. This natural polymer can be used just as normal plastic resin in the manufacture of consumer goods, containers, films, cartons, apparel, textiles, electronics etc.
Let’s look in detail as to how this is done.
Firstly, natural sugar is obtained from plant sources, and is converted into lactic acid by special Microorganisms, which alter the chemical structure of sugar.This lactic acid molecules then link with each other to form long chains, similar to ester chains in normal plastics. This long chains are called Ingeo Polylactide polymer chains, and are converted into pellets. This pellets form the starting point of its wide usage, and they can be molded into different shaped and sizes to create a versatile range of
products.
Now let us look at one more aspect of using plastics-which is disposing plastic wastes. Conventional plastic goods are often burnt or end up in landfills which does pollute air and soil. They are also recycled and produced into new goods. With Ingeo, you can safely dispose the used plastics gods, as they arebiodegradable, and do not pollute the environment. They also do not release toxic gases and can beeasily incarcerated. Also, disposable utensils made from Ingeo can always be safely composted, which isone advantage over using normal plastics for disposable foodstuffs.
Ingeo can be made from natural sources, and do not require any genetically modified crops. They can be synthesized from natural plant sugars such as wheat, sugar beet, sugarcane etc. Also, the current usage of corn for making Ingeo is only 0.05% of the total corn production, and hence does not affect the food cycle.
For more details on Ingeo, please access their site at www.naturalworksllc.com. You can also buy Ingeo pellets online, and can also find manufactures who use Ingeo for their product ranges.
