CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

To reduce their environmental footprint, teachers and students at the various schools in the Meriden region will start taking part in recycling activities in the coming few weeks. To facilitate recycling in all these schools in the region, the city officials have come up with a new plan where all school authorities will dispose their waste into a recycling bin and participate in a single-stream recycling system. The motto of Reuse, Recycle, and Recover has gained a lot of importance in the recent years. So it's not a surprise that organizations, households, and now even schools are trying to make efforts to inculcate this motto in their daily lives. The New Recycling System in Meriden Schools Prior to the new proposed change, school authorities only participated in recycling activities that would convert paper and cardboard into eco friendly promotional items. However, with the new system in place, the students and the teachers will dispose various items into blue recycling bins. To make the process of waste segregation simpler for the school authorities, the city officials will place a blue dustbin in every classroom along with a promotional poster. This poster will have the details of all the materials that need to be disposed and the bins where they need to be disposed as well. According to a Superintendent in one of the schools that is participating in this event, Mr. Beningni, more schools should incorporate such activities to inculcate values in their students. Such activities give the students a lesson that they shouldn't waste their resources and use them wisely. They also teach them how to reuse materials and to convert them into useful items that can be utilized by others as well. He also adds that with a bin placed inside the classroom, the students and the teachers will be motivated enough to recycle their waste, as they won't have to make any efforts to go looking for a recycling cart. Meriden Encouraging Children to Use Eco-Friendly Promotional Items This recycling initiative, which will be implemented in many schools in Meriden, was initiated by Rosanne Moore who names it as Meriden Public Schools Recycles Today for a Better Tomorrow. As the name suggests, this initiative aims at establishing a sense of responsibility among the students and the teachers for a brighter future. Rosanne has made many efforts to inculcate recycling behavior in her student in the past few years, and is extremely excited that so many schools are going to follow the same. She proposed this idea in front of her school authorities without any expectations, and is glad that the city officials approved of the change in the school waste management system. Source

The decision to extend the Farm Bill of 2008 has left organic farmers perplexed since the first of January, 2013. The updated version of the 2012 Farm Bill had included funding for organic programs that were not approved for the 2008 bill. Since there was no time to enact the 2012 bill, the government made a last-minute decision to extend the old bill to the dismay of many farmers nationwide. Organic Farmers Programs Included in the 2012 Bill The 2012 Farm Bill included funding for research in organic farming and extension. Along with this, funding was also mandated for costs covered for organic certification and the organic data collection system. This type of funding that has helped conventional farmers to meet the demands of the market and develop better marketing strategies has unfortunately not been included in the 2008 Farm Bill extension. Since the 2012 bill could have helped the growth of organic product industry, this new turn in the decision of the government has been regarded to cause a major impact on farmers. Experts say that it might discourage certified farmers from continuing with organic farming and revert to conventional method. Also, the concerned public is raising questions about food safety especially about products that are healthier while produced through organic methods. Sale of Organic Farmers at This Time Initially, the concerns regarding health and environment drove farmers and manufacturers towards organic products. The extension of the 2008 bill had raised more concerns regarding safety of vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, and poultry. The standards that organic producers meet to qualify their organic certifications are quite high and ensure that their products are not contaminated by chemicals or biological pathogens. In addition to this, if the bill is discouraging farmers from switching to organic methods, then there is an increasing concern of soil, air, and water pollution due to chemicals used in factories and farming. Although it is not easy for farmers and manufacturers to obtain government funding for their projects, it is possible for them to create a good market for themselves by selling eco friendly promotional items. Educating people about the benefits of organic products and the need for environment conservation can be used as a marketing strategy. Organic producers can sell reusable bags, recyclable bags, catalogues, etc., and spread awareness about the damage caused by conventional methods of farming and manufacturing. At the same time, they can advertise their products and companies on these items, luring more people towards their stores. Until the government changes its decision about the Farm Bill, organic producers can hold on to the silver lining of the current state of affairs and increase their sales. Source

Keeping in mind the increasing need to propagate organic lifestyles among people, MOSES is organizing its annual conference on organic agriculture in La Crosse this year. This conference is called the 24th Annual MOSES Organic Farming Conference. It is scheduled to take place in the month of February, and will cover significant aspects of organic agriculture. The conference is open to all individuals or organizations who are interested in this field. A Conference Focused on Organic Agriculture In all the years during which this conference has taken place, it has been the largest event for all organic producers and professionals associated with this industry. This year's conference is expected to have around 70 workshops. Before the conference, the organizers are also planning on having a pre-conference on the Organic University courses. This pre-conference is expected to last for a period of 10 days so that the participants get a detailed idea about the various courses that the university offers. In addition to this, the conference is scheduled to have around 170 trade show exhibitors. During the conference, many well-known speakers as well as movie makers are expected to share their views on organic agriculture and its scope. The keynote speakers for this year's conference are both filmmakers, Joshua Kunau and Jeremy Seifert. Both these filmmakers are going to have a detailed discussion on their movie “GMO OMG” during the conference. This movie is based on the filmmakers' conversations with various farmers in the country. They have compiled their personal experiences in this movie. This movie represents what both of these filmmakers have learned from experts, seed sellers, and farmers on the subject of modified seeds. In addition to this, Carmen Fernholz will also share her views on the roles that consumers and producers play in the organic food industry, at the conference. She will talk about the organic sector in detail, and explain how its structure impacts its growth. Encouraging Eco-Friendly Promotional Items at the Conference Apart from the keynote speakers, the conference will have many new and enthusiastic farmers who will share their views on organic agriculture and eco friendly promotional items. The conference has a New Organic Stewards program which will educate young farmers on the seeds they can use and give them an idea about the success of organic products as well. Furthermore, the conference will have a research forum that will discuss the present organic farming practices. Source

The list of finalists for this year's Green Car Technology Awards' has been announced. These awards are designed to commend the efforts of car companies that make efforts to try and produce eco-friendly car models. At present, around 10 eco-friendly cars have been shortlisted for this award, and the winner will be announced at the Washington Auto Show. The auto show is expected to take place on the 31st of January, 2013. A Unique Award Ceremony for Green Car Technology Green Car Technology Awards are organized by the Green Car Journal. Keeping in mind the scarce availability of fossil fuels, these awards will be given to car companies that have made efforts to use alternative sources of energy in their cars. These awards look for three main criteria in the cars, that is the emission rate, the fuel efficiency of the car, and the type of fuel that the car utilizes. Cars that score highly under all these categories are eco-friendly in nature, and cause minimal damage to the environment when compared to other cars that run on petrol or diesel. According to the Publisher and Editor of carsofchange.com and the Green Car Journal, Ron Cogan, green or eco-friendly cars have a higher level of fuel efficiency, and have minimal emission rates as well. Therefore, they help save natural resources, and cause minimal pollution. So a car can run on regular fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel, and still be green or eco-friendly in nature due to the fuel-efficient technology installed in it. Nominations of Companies That Encourage Eco-Friendly Promotional Items The companies that have been nominated for this award due to their encouragement of the manufacture of eco friendly promotional items are Ford, Honda, Nissan, Fiat, Fisker, Toyota, Tesla, and Mazda. Ford has the maximum entries in the final list. Three of Ford's cars have been nominated for this award; these include, Ford EcoBoost, Ford Auto Stop-Start, and Ford Energi. The Honda Eco Assist has also been nominated for this award due to its ECON features that make it energy-efficient. Nissan has been nominated for the low tire pressure technology used in its car. The Fiat MultiAir has been recognized for its low power technology by the awards committee, and has thus reached the final list. To promote the production of eco-friendly sports cars, the awards committee has nominated the Fisker EVer in this category as well. The other cars that have made the list include the Toyota RAV 4 EV, the Powertrain from Tesla, and the SkyACTIV by Mazda. One of these cars will be announced as the winner towards the end of the month. Source

With the start of a new year, the Tyndall Air Force Base representatives are inviting the residents of the surrounding areas to recycle with them. The people residing within the base have been participating in recycling activities for many years. According to the Recycling Coordinator at the base named Robert. S Myers, all the individuals residing at the base need to recycle, as it is mandatory for them. However, in the new year, the base representatives want to actively involve the residents of Panama City, who live outside the base area, in their recycling activities as well. The Plan Proposed by the Representatives at Tyndall Air Force According to Myers, the base has many drop-off facilities around the base area. So the individuals who work at the base, but live in surrounding areas can bring in waste from their neighborhood with them and dispose it on the campus. By making these efforts, the residents will help reduce the burden on the waste disposal landfills in the city, and will also save up on money that they spend on disposing their waste. Furthermore, with the recycling activities coming into place, the residents will be able to save the natural resources around them, and will have access to them for a longer period of time. Myers adds that along with the participation of the residents, the schools and colleges in the vicinity should get their students involved in recycling activities as well. If children learn the value of recycling from an early age, they will be able to develop eco-friendly habits from the start. So recycling will come naturally to them, unlike the present generation. Tyndall Air Force Encourage Eco-Friendly Promotional Items and Recycling Kaycie Hoffman, the Principal of St. John Catholic School, agrees with Myers and states that school children need to be taught the importance of recycling from a very early age. Since the past few months, the students at the St. John Catholic School have been trying to recycle all their academic waste. The school has made provisions for special bins around the campus, so that the students can dispose their waste materials that can be recycled later on. At present, the students have developed a habit of disposing their waste into these special bins. Kaycie adds that it took the students a few months to adapt the entire process, however, now they are very comfortable with it. As a matter of fact, due to this recycling initiative, the students have developed a keen interest in using eco friendly promotional items. Source

Looking at the issue of plastic waste disposal within the country, the lawmakers in the various cities of the U.S. are planning to take measures to make plastic bags unappealing to the residents. A normal single-use plastic bag takes a couple of years to become biodegradable, and each year millions of plastic bags are added in the waste landfills across the country. At present, most of the landfills in the U.S. are reaching their saturation point, and so the lawmakers have decided to take up the initiative to discourage the usage of single-use plastic bags in the U.S. Plastic Bags Banned to Curb the Usage of Plastic Bags in the U.S The lawmakers in various cities of the U.S. such as San Francisco and San Diego have issued bills towards the plastic bag banned in their cities. According to these bills, customers who opt for single-use plastic bags over promotional reusable bags will be charged additional five cents on their bill. Experts say that many shoppers will be perturbed by the fact that they need to pay additional money for their carry bags and would switch over to using reusable bags. A resident of Bloomfield region in New Jersey, Glenn Canlas, stated that people are aware of the fact that plastic bags are harmful to the environment. So if the bill in New Jersey gets approved, many people would like to opt for reusable bags over plastic ones. All retail stores will have to follow the law on plastic bags ban in their respective cities. If selected shops or retail stores abide by this law, the customers will start buying their products at outlets that don't follow the ban. So, the lawmakers are going to be very strict about the implementation of the ban, once the bills are passed in different cities. Washington Plastic Bags Banned In the year 2009, a similar law was enforced in Washington D.C. After the law was implemented in Washington D.C., around 4,500 liquor and food stores charged their customers an additional five cents on their purchase when they requested for a plastic bag. This law helped the city council generate approximately $2 million dollars within the first year, and the council used this money for a river cleanup campaign. So, looking at the success of this law in Washington, other cities in the U.S. also decided to implement similar laws. Source

To curb the issue of electronic waste in third world countries, an organization named Green Citizen has taken up the initiative to recycle electronic waste in different cities in the U.S. The founder of the organization, James Kao states that he was disheartened by the fact that various electronic products such as computers, microwaves, and refrigerators are disposed to various cities in China and Africa from the U.S. So he decided to start an organization that would recycle the excess electronic waste in the country. A Creative Initiative to Reduce Electronic Waste During the Holidays Green Citizen, as an organization, collects electronic waste in the San Francisco Bay region. Once the electronic waste is collected, the organization ensures that it is recycled into various raw materials and sold in the market again. At present, the organization is gearing up to dispose the additional waste that will be collected during the holiday season. According to experts, most families dispose their old electronics during the holiday season, as they purchase new appliances or receive gifts during this season. Barbara Kyle, a coordinator for the Electronics TakeBack Coalition states that people are excited to buy the latest gadgets during the holiday season. So the e-waste collected during these months is way higher than the rest of the year, she added.  Statistically, around 2.4 million tons of electronic waste is generated every year in the U.S, and most of it is collected during the holiday season. These figures have been approved by the EPA or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. So Green Citizen is expecting a 30 percent jump in its waste collection in the coming few days. Encouraging Eco-Friendly Promotional Items and Electronic Waste Once the organization collects electronic waste, Green Citizen ensures that the waste is not sent to the landfills meant for waste disposal. The organization is very particular about whom they partner with, and thus most of their alliances are certified recycling agencies. So the organization sends the electronic waste to their recycling agencies that convert it into eco friendly promotional items. This initiative, which was started as an eco-friendly enterprise, has turned out to be a profitable business as well. As a matter of fact, the organization is expecting to earn revenue of around $2.5 million by the end of this year. With the increased revenue, James Kao is planning on spreading his operations to New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles as well. Source

To promote eco-friendly fashion lifestyles and eco friendly promotional items, retail stories in Austin have stopped using single-use plastic bags. Buffalo Exchange, a retail store for used fashion resale, has implemented this policy in all their shops. This store has worked on their Token For Bag Policy, which is an incentive system against the usage of plastic bags. Along with Buffalo Exchange, well-known brands such as Zara and H&M are also making efforts to try and incorporate eco-friendly elements in their fashion collections and store policies. Buffalo Exchange's Eco-Friendly Fashion The Token For Bag policy is similar to the incentive system that has been implemented by the city councils in many cities in the U.S. According to this policy, every time a customer uses a reusable bag in the store, he or she will get five cents from the store. The customers can donate these five cents to a charity of their choice. So every time the customers use a reusable bag of their own, or purchase a reusable bag from the Buffalo Exchange's store, they will make a contribution to a charitable trust as well. The owners of the store believe that many people will be interested in this policy and this will help reduce at least 350,000 plastic bags from the landfills meant for waste disposal. Eco-Friendly Fashion Brands Using Promotional Items in Their Designs Well-known clothing brands such as H&M and Zara are making efforts to incorporate eco-friendly elements in their designs. According to officials, in the month of February, 2013, H&M will start recycling used clothes for its collections. The company is going to collect old and used clothes from customers. Customers can donate any material, from any brand, to the H&M office. In return, the H&M officials will give the customers a voucher for each piece of cloth that they donate. According to experts associated with H&M, bulks of used clothes are disposed into the landfills every year. So by collecting used materials from the customers, H&M is hoping to reduce the number of used clothes being disposed into the landfills. On the other hand, a well-known name in the retail industry, Zara, has announced that it will turn all its production activities toxic-free by the year 2020. Zara has been tagged as a user of hazardous materials by the Greenpeace. However, the brand has announced that it will soon make amendments in its manufacturing practices and try to stop the usage of toxic materials in its clothes. Source

In the year 2012, there were a lot of campaigns in the city of Darien that aimed at promoting the usage of reusable bags. But, the longest running campaign in the city was conducted by a group named Choose to Reuse. This organization proposed an ordinance which demanded the retailers and other shopkeepers in the region to use promotional reusable bags instead of single-use plastic bags. Even though the ordinance was not passed by the city council, the organization continues to promote the usage of recyclable and reusable eco friendly bags among the residents of the city The initiative by Choose to Reuse in Darien Choose to Reuse, as an organization, took up the initiative to promote reusable bags among the residents of the city as they felt that the residents need to be educated on the dangers of using single-use plastic bags. Through this campaign, the organization educated the residents on the harmful effects of plastic bags on the environment. They emphasized on the fact that plastic bags are non-biodegradable in nature, and are disposed into landfills everyday. According to reports, approximately 100 billion single-use plastic bags are disposed into landfills every year in the U.S. So they take up the maximum amount of space in the landfills. Furthermore, these plastic bags disrupt the marine life when disposed into water bodies. Reports suggest that around 100,000 mammals in the sea and around 1 million marine birds die due to the presence of plastic bags in the water bodies. Choose to Reuse displayed these facts in front of the residents to make them realize the impact of using plastic bags on the ecosystem. The organization spread this message by conducting many presentations and campaigns in the Darien Nature Center. The retailers and shop owners of the town were invited to these events, and the residents were also welcomed by the volunteers of the organization. Darien Needs to Ban Plastic Bags and to Encourage Promotional Reusable Bags After a few events, the organization realized that spreading awareness was not enough to reduce the consumption of plastic bags within the region. So, they took inspiration from the laws that were implemented in the other cities in the U.S. Thus, the organization proposed a ban on single-use plastic bags in front of the city council of Darien. The organization won a lot of support for their initiative, but was criticized as well. Therefore, the organization was unsuccessful in getting the ordinance to ban plastic bags approved. But, it still propagates the usage of reusable bags via events and other promotional activities in the city. Source

Keeping in mind the alarming issue of waste disposal, the Publix Super Markets have decided to help out the authorities at the Charleston County with their recycling activities. This collaboration is supposed to start its activities from the end of December, 2012. According to experts, the Publix Markets will help the county in recycling waste materials into organic or compost waste. Recycling Waste into Compost in Charleston County According to experts, this initiative is a unique addition to the county's previous efforts. Once the initiative is officially launched, the Bees Ferry Landfill Compost Facility, the recycling unit belonging to the county's officials, will receive floral waste from the Publix stores. At present, around five of the stores will send their produce or floral waste to this facility. After the recycling center receives the waste material from all the five Publix markets, it will start processing it to turn it into compost. The waste materials will be mixed along with the yard waste that is available at the center. The combination of these materials will yield compost that is rich in nutrients. The Bees Ferry Landfill Compost Facility officials are even planning on marketing and selling this compost among the residents of the county. Charleston County Encouraging Eco-Friendly Promotional Items According to the Environmental Management Department at the county, the officials are very excited about this recycling initiative. As a matter of fact, they want more residents and organizations to collaborate and promote eco friendly promotional items. This initiative, in particular, will help the agricultural society within the county. According to Colleen Condon, a member of the Charleston County City Council, the officials are hoping that more supermarkets will join the composting initiative. If businesses can divert their waste materials toward recycling centers, the city council will save up on disposing costs, and the businesses will benefit as well. This program alone will help the county achieve at least 40 percent of its recycling goals, and in time the county will reach its maximum recycling potential as well, added Colleen. According to the Media and Communications Manager for Publix, Brenda Reid, the collaboration between Publix and the Charleston County officials is a beneficial situation for both the parties. To expand this recycling program among other businesses, the county has given Publix the right to reduce its disposal costs and increase the recycling rates in its local stores as well. So the company will be able to manage its waste better, and the county officials will be able to reduce the waste burden on the landfills. Source