CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

E-scooters, the E standing for "electric," promoted as zero-carbon, urban transport, are flooding city streets worldwide. But, just how green this mode of transportation is is still an unanswered question. The companies distributing these vehicles, from multinational operations to local start-ups, insist that these ever present two-wheelers are a gain for the environment and will help curb global warming. One American firm, one of the global leaders in e-scooters, boasts on their website, "Bird was founded to create a cleaner and more hospitable world that prioritizes people over cars. Scooters cut the use of vehicles and reduce the volume of traffic on the road. They also help reduce pollution and improve air quality."American e-scooter firm Bird, via their website Shared scooters that don't require docking ports can be driven door-to-door. You'll avoid searching for a parking space. Plus, they have zero-emission motors. On paper, they look great! They have the potential to radically reduce urban car traffic. In France, for example, 70 percent of trips between home and work are three miles or less (five km), according to the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Research. "Micromobility could theoretically encompass all passenger trips of less than five miles (eight km), which account for as much as 50 to 60 percent of today's total passenger miles traveled in China, the European Union, and the United States."Report from consulting firm McKinsey The National Association of City Transportation Officials said that in the US, riders made almost 40 million trips on shared scooters last year. Lime, a major player, financed by Uber and Google's parent company, Alphabet, found that about one in every three rides in only 26 cities around the world replaces one car trip. "From this shift, we estimate that our riders have avoided 15 million miles (about 24 million km) of car travel and prevented 6,220 metric tons of carbon emissions over a two year period."E-Scooter company Lime But does this vehicle live up to the hype? With regards to Lime's claims, research group 6t conducted a survey of 4,500 commuters in Paris, Lyons, and Marseille, France. It revealed that only 19 percent of riders used these scooters to go to work or school. More than 40 percent of usage was done by out-of-town visitors.Going to work or school using an e-scooter? Take your things in a backpack made from sustainable materials. Without access to e-scooters, 44 percent of respondents said they would have walked, 12 percent said they would have biked, and 30 percent would have used public transportation. Cars only squeezed into the picture.Are you one of the people who still drives? Keep your keys on a lanyard made from eco-friendly materials. "But this doesn't mean that we should get rid of e-scooters—absolutely not! The fact that half the usage is recreational is striking, but at least this favors a more mixed use of ...

Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in popular pain reliever Tylenol, stems from a surprising source: coal tar, a thick, sticky liquid produced when oxygen-deprived coal is subjected to high heat. Fortunately, a new method, developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin—Madison's Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) offers an environmentally friendly alternative to the currently fossil-fuel heavy one. It draws upon a natural compound derived from plant material to synthesize the popular medication. According a press release, the process is outlined in a patent awarded to a team led by Biochemist John Ralph.Find your environmentally friendly alternative to single-use plastic by replacing your bags and bottles with items from Custom Earth Promos. Along with University of Kentucky Biochemist Justin Mobley and GLBRC research scientist Steven Karlen, the trio decided to experiment with clipoffs. Clipoffs are small molecules attached to lignin, an abundant yet difficult-to-manage polymer that makes the cell walls of plants rigid. This came after having a light bulb moment in the middle of a conversation. "Ralph started talking about clipoffs, and I said why don't we make something out of these. So we chose acetaminophen as a catchy target that people have heard and care about."University of Kentucky Biochemist Justin Mobley Ralph describes lignin as an "extremely complex, messy polymer...very effective for providing structure and defense for the plant" but hard to break down into usable components. This quality makes lignin a researcher's headache. They rely on plant sugars found in bioenergy crops to produce biofuels but find themselves unable to effectively use the leftover polymer. It is then burned for energy. To overcome this issue of wastefulness, a string of chemical reactions capable of converting clipoff molecules, so called because a structure attached to lignin known as p-hydroxybenzoate is "fairly easy to clip off as a quite pure stream," into acetaminophen has been created. It only took three steps to accomplish the task. Adhering to the same process used with coal tar, the only part that changed was the source material. Acetaminophen and p-hydroxybenzoate are both relatively simple molecules. given the similarities in their structures, the plant-based material boasts an advantage of the fossil-fuel derived one. Whereas this more complex petrochemical must be stripped down to its bare molecular bones before being built back up into the desired compound, the lignin-based molecules already bear some of the desired structure. Now, the team is working on refining their method, to improve both yield and purity. Although the more expensive, renewable alternative is unlikely to replace the cheaper method anytime soon, Ralph says that "...at some point , it may be the case that we are completely prevented from using fossil fuels. We are not close to that now...but it is almost inevitable. Preparing ...

PepsiCo just announced that beginning in 2020, Aquafina bottled water will come in aluminum cans. As the concern for global, non-recyclable waste grows, this is the brand's biggest attempt to reduce single-use plastic containers.Put your water in a stainless steel or BPA free reusable water bottle and get rid of some of the single-use plastic containers in your own life. Aluminum is not only one of the easiest materials to recycle but is recycled more often than other similar packaging types. This is according to The Aluminum Association, a group working within Washington, DC, to help make aluminum the sustainable metal of choice worldwide. PepsiCo says that this change, along with their current distribution of Lifewtr, which is available in 100 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate, a common form of polyester, and removing plastic from its new flavored, sparking water product Bubly, is "expected to eliminate more than 8,000 metric tons of virgin plastic and approximately 11,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a company press release. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US generated 34.5 million tons of plastic, with landfills receiving about 26 million tons of that total, back in 2015. So, while Pepsi's goal is noble, its just a dent in the overall need for plastics to be recycled.Switch to reusable bags and help do your part to reduce the amount of plastic generated. PepsiCo's ultimate goal is to make all of its product packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable by 2025. The 12-ounce cans of water will be available at food service outlets, such as work places, hospitals, restaurants, and colleges. They are also plan on testing it with retailers. PepsiCo expects the first rollout to be completed by the end of 2020. At this point, larger sized cans will be considered for the future. Is the world ready for canned still water? Pepsi executives think so. "Many consumers are open to this and looking for solutions outside of plastic. Our goal is to provide options and to ensure we are staying ahead of consumer trends."Vice President of the Water Portfolio for PepsiCo Stacy Taffet, via TODAY Food by email People have been very vocal about the switch on Twitter, with some consumers voicing concerns that liquid tastes different when in a can. Others have noted that there will no longer be a replaceable cap, meaning each serving will be meant for one sitting. Plenty of eco-conscious consumers are applauding the move. Aluminum cans help keep liquid colder much better than plastic, which is an added bonus of canned water. Aquafina also won't be the first brand of canned water. Open Water, formerly Green Sheep Water, offers both a 12-ounce aluminum can, as well as a larger, aluminum bottle with a screw on top. There is also nonprofit, CannedWater4Kids. They sell canned drinking water and donate a big portion of the proceeds to clean drinking programs. And, just like ...

There's a small billboard on the grounds of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Sculpture Garden. If you were to just glance at it, you might think it was an advertisement. Upon closer inspection, you'll discover that despite an instantly recognizable logo, it's not an advertisement at all. This billboard is actually a two sided display case. Created by Sean Connaughty, MCAD students and staff, and volunteers, it's filled with one day's worth of trash from Minnesota's Lake Hiawatha.Let Custom Earth Promos help you reduce the amount of trash in your life. This past Earth Day, about 375 volunteers helped Connaughty clean trash out of the lake. This resulted in a total of 18,879 items that were then sorted and categorized. Notation was taken of the corporation that produced the item. The top four brands highlighted in Connaughty's cleanup were PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Mars, Inc. These are the four brands whose logos grace the four displays. They are also the four brands whose trash is stored inside them. McDonald's famous arches are made out of straws, Pepsi's circle is an empty Cheetos bag and bottles of Gatorade, and Mars' lettering is a sea of candy wrappers—mostly from their own company. "I realize now that the question is and always has been: Who is responsible for the trash in Lake Hiawatha? Because no agency takes responsibility to clean up the trash at the lake. To me, the answer is the consumer, the producer, and our municipalities."Minneapolis Artist Sean Connaughty Connaughty lives only a few blocks away from the lake. It's a quiet place that would be beautiful if it weren't for all of the pollution. His art and his activism have been aimed at the garbage problem since 2015. Lake Hiawatha is Lake Nokomis' less popular neighbor. It's smaller and has less visitors. However, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Habitat Restoration Project includes native plants along the shoreline. This attracts all kinds of birds. But, it wasn't always a lake. Back in the early 1900s, Theodore Wirth, the then superintendent of Minneapolis Parks, suggested it be turned into a dry meadow, since it had subpar lake qualities. Instead, the lake was dredged in the 1930s, about the time the park board decided to build a golf course next to it. Today, the golf course dumps millions of gallons of water into that lake each year. Lake Hiawatha is also the dumping ground for neighboring stormwater. With all of that stormwater comes the surrounding neighborhood's trash. With no mitigation system in place to protect the lake, Connaughty started to clean it himself. He began picking up bags and bags of trash. He enlisted the help of friends and neighbors. so far, he's put together cleanups, published surveys of collected items, presented these items as part of gallery installations, and created public art awareness campaigns to reduce littering.Litter less by replacing your water bottles and planting seed paper. ...

The Green Finance Network Japan (GFNJ) was established late last year with the aim to make green finance mainstream in Japan's financial market. Green finance is a term often used to refer to methods of financing and investing that are more environmentally friendly or sustainable. This has been becoming a global trend since the signing of the Paris agreement back in 2016.Make a green investment in your business by purchasing your promotional materials from Custom Earth Promos. GFNJ Secretary General and Integrated Resort Promotion (IR), Government of Japan, Counselor, Hideki Takada, came across the idea of green finance when he was assigned to the position of Senior Policy Analyst of Green Finance and Investment at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) by the Ministry of Finance in Paris. He held this position between 2015 and the summer of 2018. "Japan was a slow starter in green finance. It has been gaining momentum over the past one or two years. I wanted to maintain and utilize the extensive network I built there, even after I returned to Japan to work in other fields within the government."GFNJ Secretary General and IR Promotion, Government of Japan, Counselor Hideki Takada Takada set up GFNJ with two others. The first co-founder was Takejiro Sueyoshi, CEO of Green Finance Organization Japan and Special Advisor to the United Nations Environment Program—Finance Initiative in the Asia-Pacific region; the second was the President of the Japan Center for International Finance and OECD Former Deputy Secretary-General, Rintaro Tamaki. GFNJ organizes events and conferences on green finances, gathers and shares information on various green finance activities conducted by both inside members and others outside of the organization, and provides a platform for connecting Japanese and international stakeholders.On your way to an event or conference? Go green and take your things in a reusable bag. The group includes more than 120 members from 70 organizations. This includes government ministries and agencies, private companies, academic institutions, local municipalities, financial institutions, international organizations, think tanks, media, and nongovernmental organizations. Members vary in age. Takada stated that professionals make up the bulk of the network. He hopes this will drive rapid changes based on common awareness of the issues.Make a rapid change to keep lots of plastic out of the ocean by replacing single-use bottles with a reusable one. The finance organization serves as a platform for building long-lasting, person-to-person connections as a starting point to bring about bigger changes across all sectors. This is due to bureaucrats are regularly transferred to different sectors of government. The contents of what they do and who they work with tend to change every few years. This can also be said for many private Japanese companies. This is one of the causes of vertical divisions among ...

Chris Johnson's first outdoor parties with friends were small, impromptu, chaotic—"really good fun," as he puts it. Seventeen years later, Johnson and those same four college friends are still pioneers in the art of partying. Shambala, however, is now a four-day event in rural Northamptonshire that averages an attendance of 15,000. It has set an industry standard for its eco-credentials. "We're a purpose-led organization, the point of it existing is to contribute something to the world, and the environment is an important part of our outlook; we have a responsibility—but also an opportunity to experiment." Chris Johnson The festival now uses 100 percent renewable power. It comes from a mix of vegetable oil and solar power units. They have also gotten rid of disposable plastics, and in 2015, they became completely meat and fish free. "It caused a storm initially, but the appetite is there. This year we've got 1 percent of our audience coming by bike and 25 by coach. It might not seem much, but 80 percent of the carbon footprint of a camping festival is made by travel down to the site." Chris Johnson The cultural conversation concerning festivals in recent years has been about the low numbers of female artists or "making them less white." This year the topic has changed and the question is now: How can festivals go green? The first thing is the war on plastic has multiplied. Glastonbury has banned the sale of single-use plastic bottles. Co-Organizer Emily Eavis estimates that this will "save the million bottles that we would have otherwise sold" and is in line with the festival's vision to tread lightly on the land. Instead, the 200,000-strong audience will have access to 850 water taps and dozens of water kiosks.Save yourself from using single-use plastic water bottles by getting a reusable one. Earlier this year, more than 60 major festivals, including Reading, Leeds, and Download, pledged to become plastic-free by 2021. The major offenders remain the same: straws, cutlery, and bottles. Bans have been met with enthusiasm by audiences. However, according to A Greener Festival Co-Organizer, Claire O'Neill, the not-for-profit which audits and advises the industry on how to reduce its environmental impact, the key impact remains these three: transport, tents, and toilets. Using public transportation or signing up for ride sharing to get festival-goers to the site makes the biggest difference when it comes to the carbon footprint. Getting people to remember to pack up and take their tents home is also a major environmental headache. "We actively ask people to consider what they bring to the festival and urge them not to bring disposable tents. We don't ban it because we don't want to become financially prohibitive, but they are a bane for most festivals. The waste is extraordinary." Green Man Festival Operations Director Ian Fielder Consider how you take your stuff to the festival. Purchase a reusable, sustainable ...

Being environmentally friendly is something that many people are striving for; particularly in recent years. Hundreds of studies and reports are conducted and published from reputable universities, the UN, the EU, and even the Catholic Church. Pope Francis has given the drive to be eco-friendly renewed momentum and motivation with his encyclical on the environment. But, just how practical is it for families to change up their routines? Family life can be hectic. If there is a new baby on the way, planning on how to cut down the mountains of waste may be the last question on a couple's mind. Being green was certainly on the mind of Catherine Devitt, the Environmental Justice Officer from the Jesuit Center for Faith and Justice (JCFJ), when she found out she had a new baby coming. Although she is no longer working for JCFJ, much of Devitt's work when she was involved looking at how Jesuits in Ireland can improve their environmental footprint. When it comes to her home life, Devitt definitely practices what she preaches. One of the most important challenges is the boycott of disposable diapers. They are known to be both environmentally and financially unstable. Not only do they rack up a hefty expense, but many are burnt or shipped off to landfills. Devitt's mom used cloth diapers in the 1980s, before disposable diapers became mainstream in Ireland. She was on hand to offer her daughter guidance. While seemingly much more expensive than the other option, cloth diapers pay for themselves in the long run. (For those looking for first-hand guidance, advice, and information, many social media resources and groups have been established for these discussions.) As the mother of a one-year-old, Devitt said baby clothes quickly became unusable. "They're growing at such a fast rate, and we certainly found that parents are very willing to give you clothes that you no longer need. We found that there's actually no need to buy new clothes and that there is plenty of alternatives, whether through charity shops or again online, there are so many groups where people are willing to give clothes that they no longer need."Jesuit Center for Faith and Justice Environmental Justice Officer Catherine Devitt According to Devitt, buying new clothes that will only be used for a short period of time is not worth the environmental impact. Straying from this practice is also a good way to save money. Baby clothes can cost quite a lot. Breastfeeding is another good way to save money. If it is an option, it is not only good for mom and baby, but the environment as well. It cuts down on plastic, bypasses intensive farming and emissions associated with formula, and puts more money in your pocket. "Every maternity hospital should be promoting breastfeeding for mothers."Jesuit Center for Faith and Justice Environmental Justice Officer Catherine Devitt Devitt adds that she believes no stigma should be associated with it. There are arguments that to ...

Dieting is an activity that will never go away. When it comes to what we put in our bodies, people's tastes are as different as the cultures they come from. Some people modify their diets to loose weight, some people do it for health reasons, others may do it for religious reasons, and some may be concerned with the planet's or animal welfare. When it comes to popular diet plan, some, however, are more eco-friendly than others. In general, those lower in animal products rank higher due to the ecological cost of meat products. Here are ten popular diet plans, ranked from words to best, for those considering changing their eating habits for the planet's benefit.Change your shopping habits for the planet's benefit by getting your promotional materials from Custom Earth Promos. 1. The Carnivorous Diet Also known as "the zero-carb diet," this diet plan is the least eco-friendly diet if you consider its ecological impact. It requires the elimination of all carbohydrates. People following this plan cut out all plant matter from their diet, eating only meat and animal products such as dairy and eggs. Despite claims that this diet is good for certain health conditions, such as inflammatory pain conditions like arthritis, most licensed nutritionists wouldn't recommend you eat this way. Red meat has been linked to increased risks of other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and strokes. It also contributes to the destruction of the rainforest to make space to raise cattle. 2. The Atkins Diet In terms of where they rank, both Atkins and keto have the same ecological footprint. The main difference between the two, is that while keto is very fat heavy, Atkins is more focused on proteins. This edges it out from keto just enough on the eco-friendliness scale. As far as health, they can both help you lose weight quickly, but at a hefty cost to the environment. 3. The Keto Diet Another diet on the low-carb end of the scale, keto also allows for generous amounts of red meat consumption. This is not eco-friendly. While it is possible to be vegetarian, even vegan, and still keto friendly, the majority of those following the keto diet enjoy large amounts of steak. If you are considering this plan, make it friendlier by choosing proteins like fish instead of beef. 4. The Paleo Diet This diet is better than those above, edging towards the middle of the scale. Paleo does allow for meat consumption, but unlike keto, doesn't focus on it. Like keto, it can be modified to fit a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. The focus of this diet is returning to the basics, what our caveman ancestors would have eaten. It focuses primarily on lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and even meat. The health benefits include reducing things like artificial sweeteners, flavorings, and colors. Essentially, anything processed is a no-go. This makes the plan beneficial to those concerned with the damaging effects of certain foods.Are you ...

The first European Packaging Forum took place last week in Dusseldorf, Germany. Many German, and other European, visitors traveled to inform themselves about the current market situation and possible future developments. Many lectures laid the foundation for dealing with retail packaging. How is the current situation? What should be considered, especially with regard to the current packaging law(s)? Why do we need packaging? What are the benefits? Can we just skip the packaging? What are the alternatives to paper and plastic? How are certain ideas already being implemented? All of these questions were asked during the event. Although the event didn't conclude with a "master plan," the mood was positive and German retailers took the position of "as much packaging as necessary, as little as possible."Change the way you think about packaging with reusable grocery bags. With an audience of packers, marketers, and machinery manufacturers, it was necessary to shed light on the consumer's role in the issue also. Dr. Ralf Mayer de Groot from Mayer de Groot Marketing Research and Consult GmbH, asked this question: What do consumers really want when it comes to packaging? He considered both conscious and unconscious decision factors. According to him, the most important factors of berry packaging is the protection against pollution and damage, the visibility of the fruit, and the shelf life. 'Climate criteria' became less important. This creates a packaging preference conflict. "In the theoretical survey, environmental friendliness was credited with value, but in practice it was less important."Dr. Ralf Mayer de Groot The question of which type of packaging the consumer generally chooses has not yet been answered. "In the past, packaging was not so much appreciated, but today our goal is to communicate through packaging."European Packaging Forum Presenter Alessandro Ferraresso The perfect packaging has three main features: Rational: It must be practical and functional. It requires efficient use of materials.Responsible: The packaging must be sustainable and allow communication about the product and itself.Fresh: The packaging should be visually appealing and honest. "Packaging is very important and communicating about it is the future. You can work with different levels of information, from pure pragmatic packaging to an internet presence on the product that consumers can use to keep themselves informed. Only in this way can everyone help to make a difference."European Packaging Forum Presenter Alessandro Ferraresso The ultimate goal is to include all levels of society in the discussion.Include all levels of society in your marketing by purchasing promotional items at reasonable prices from Custom Earth Promos. Managing Director for German grocery chain Rewe Homberg & Budnik, Ulrich Budnik, was present to answer questions about his experience with two Dortmund, Germany. He first outlined the different expectations ...

City leaders want to create a buzz around sustainability initiatives that have blossomed in Milwaukee's Lindsay Heights neighborhood. There's even a map encouraging people to tour its sustainable projects, including rooftop solar and stormwater management installations. Just 10 minutes northwest of the Wisconsin city's downtown area, Lindsay Heights received it's title as Milwaukee's first eco-neighborhood in September 2018; but, residents were thinking about sustainability long before the title was presented to them.Start thinking about sustainability in your life by purchasing things such as reusable bags and reusable water bottles. The first visible symbol of change was the rebirth of a building just off North Avenue on 17th Street. It used to be a boarding home. "Then it was boarded up and the city had plans to tear it down. So, neighbors came together and decided to restore the center into a neighborhood center."Walnut Way Center Communication Manager Erica Heisdorf Bisquerra This building is now the Walnut Way Center, a nonprofit organization founded by residents in 2000 to reclaim and redevelop the economic health and vitality of Lindsay Heights. It is located in the heart of the neighborhood and is a leader in sustainable initiatives. "They started with kids in the neighborhood by planting tulips...and so that was a symbol of that renewal and to show people that this is a space that is cared for."Walnut Way Center Communication Manager Erica Heisdorf Bisquerra From tulips, they transitioned into vegetable gardens and orchards. Walnut Way wasn't just growing food; they were providing jobs too.Start your own garden with seed paper. "We now have Blue Skies Landscaping, which is commercial and private contracts and they're really specializing in green infrastructure."Walnut Way Center Communication Manager Erica Heisdorf Bisquerra At a recent event to celebrate Lindsay Heights new title, Henry Hopkins said that he used to contribute to his neighborhood's problems, but he now works for Blue Skies and was recently promoted to crew leader. "I was one of the gentlemen that helped bring down the neighborhood. I was selling drugs, doing a lot of destructive things in the neighborhood. So, I decided to make something of myself. Right now, I'm feeling pretty proud of myself."Blue Skies Landscaping Crew Leader Henry Hopkins Terrell Morgan, another Lindsay Heights resident, has a different point of view. "I actually grew up around the corner off 20th & Center for a few years. So, my mom and I walked to Gautz grocery store and there used to be a Church's Chicken back in the day."Lindsay Heights Resident Terrell Morgan While these may be distant memories, when Milwaukee's Environmental Collaboration Office started deciding how to best tell the neighborhood's story through signs and a map, the team asked Morgan to add his design skills. "I am the the creator of the branding in conjunction with Walnut Way and ...