CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

You May Eat Lots of Greens but Which Diet Plan Is the Most Eco-Friendly?

Jun 18, 2019
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 ...

European Packaging Forum Deals with Balance of Green and Consumer

Jun 13, 2019
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. ...

Milwaukee's First Eco-Neighborhood Is Not a Cheesy Place to Be

Jun 11, 2019
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 ...

Art Gallery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Feature Eco-Friendly Prints

Jun 5, 2019
Currently showing at In-Town Gallery, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is "Patterns by Nature," a collection of eco-prints by artist Janice Kindred. Kindred uses plants and flowers she has gathered locally, and through a multi-step process she has developed, transfers their shapes and colors to watercolor paper. She then uses a variety of ways to enhance her patterns to produce beautiful original works of art. If you live in or around Chattanooga, the public has the opportunity to view these unique pieces at a reception happening on Friday, June 7, from 5—8 PM. The gallery is located at 26 Frazier Ave # A, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37405. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Kindred's father was a painter. She began drawing and painting as a child. As much as she loved art, she also loved plants and growing things. After completing a program at the Holden Arboretum, in Kirtland, Ohio, and became an Ohio Landscape Association certified licensed grower. This led to a career in horticulture.Help develop your own green thumb with Custom Earth Promo's seed paper. After moving to Chattanooga in 2011, art became a more serious hobby. Kindred began taking drawing classes at Chattanooga's Townsend Atelier and classes at Chattanooga's Art Creations. She was heavily influenced by artist Sandra Paynter Washburn and her classes in mixed media. In this show, the artist combines both her knowledge of plants and the aesthetics of a working artist to create what Kindred calls "eco-prints." The prints begin with the gathering of plants such as dogwood leaves, clover, maple tree seed pods, wildflowers, and honey locust tree leaves. The materials are then arranged in compositions on watercolor paper and placed in a special hot water bath.Make your own special hot water bath with stainless steel water bottles and tumblers. "And at that point, the process takes over. I'm continually surprised at what results. Often colors I'd planned appear on the paper, but sometimes colors or shapes emerge I never would have imagined."Artist Janice Kindred Once the plants have stained the paper, it is allowed to dry before beginning image enhancement. Items such as beading, embroidery thread acrylic paints, inks, or cutting away negative spaces are used for Kindred to change and mold the pattern normally found in nature. Kindred's collection will remain until the end of the month. The gallery is open 11 AM—6 PM Monday—Saturday and 1—5 PM on Sundays. You can also call them at (423) 267-9214 for more information.

Eating out of a Cardboard Box Isn't Just for Takeout Anymore

May 30, 2019
There is a newly opened cafe in India that is proving cardboard is not just for boxing up your possessions on moving day or living out of if you have no money anymore. Known as the "Cardboard Cafe," the only part of the restaurant not made out of corrugated cardboard is the kitchen. Everything in the restaurant, from the light fixtures, to the tables, to the walls, to the menu holders, are made from recyclable cardboard. In total, this is about 40,000 square feet of the material. Cardboard is naturally 50 percent air. This makes the material is lightweight, durable, inexpensive, and exceptional at absorbing sound. The sound absorption makes it perfect for a busy restaurant atmosphere. The tabletops were treated with wax to make them spill resistant. The cafe was designed by the founder of the architectural firm Nuru Karim. It took a total of seven months: three months of planning and four months of construction. The team spent an extensive amount of time testing the material for durability, flexibility, moisture resistance, and temperature adaptation. In addition to being made out of sustainable materials, the cafe serves sustainable food. They specialize in serving organic, locally-sourced meals. Karim says that his idea behind starting this restaurant was to show the versatility of cardboard. this was to help it be taken more seriously as a structural material.If you are serious about being green or going green, head over to Custom Earth Promos for all of your sustainable, eco-friendly, reusable items. "I think the idea was to literally think outside the cardboard box. We also wanted to advocate for issues such as climate change, global warming, sustainability, and hopefully this cafe could start becoming a dialogue for the way we treat our natural resources, the way we treat our planet, the way we consume, and the way we recycle." Cardboard Cafe Designer and Nudes Founder Nuru Karim via Midday India

Silent Protest Lands French Climate Activists in Hot Water

May 28, 2019
All across France, activists have been taking down official portraits of President Emmanuel Macron to protest what they believe to be his "inaction" against climate change. Now, they face up to 10 years of time in prison. The first of several trials began on Tuesday in the town of Bourg-en-Bresse, located in eastern France. Around 300 activists showed up to support the 6 defendants. They chanted "We're all portrait removers!" These six people are accused of "group theft by deceit" and face both potential jail time and substantial fines for removing Macron's official presidential portrait from town halls around the country. However, they may be able to escape jail time. Prosecutor Eric Sandjivy has requested fines of €2,000 (euros; about $2,235) against five of the six for charges of theft and refusal to provide DNA samples. The sixth, charged only with theft, faces a fine of €1,000 (about $1,117). The portrait removal has called attention to Macron's pro-business strategy; notably, as young people are taking to the streets to demand more planet-friendly strategies after France's Greens Party saw its support jump in the European Parliament election this week.Be pro-business and planet friendly by purchasing your next set of promotional items from Custom Earth Promos. Domestically, activists accuse him of lagging on promises to wean France off of fossil fuels. Internationally, however, Macron is vocal about fighting climate change. He sees himself as the voucher for the UN's Paris climate accord from 2015. He has even challenged President Donald Trump on the issue, inviting US scientists to do research in France under the country's "Make Our Planet Great Again" program. Nine other trials are scheduled. Thirty-six people are accused of taking down 40 portraits. "I'm convinced of a climate emergency and floored by the fact that nothing is happening in France. My action was legitimate. Taking down Macron, that makes sense.Bourg-en-Bresse Defendant Anne-Sophie Trujillo Gauchez via Associated Press Activists complained about the heavy sentences. "While we're conscious of the risks, we are only taking symbolic action."Bourg-en-Bresse Defendant Helene Lacroix-Baudrion The two women, along with four others, took down the portrait from the town hall in Jassans-Riottier. They called this an act of civil disobedience. All six of them had previously clean police records. Their association, ANV-COP 21, wants to turn Tuesday's trial into a political tribune. They've invited top French climate scientists to testify. The threat of prison isn't a deterrent. More than 100 portrait removals are scheduled, most notably during the lead up to the G7 summit in the southwest city of Biarritz in August. This annual international conference is where world leaders, especially the seven most industrialized democracies in the world, and world organizations, such as World Bank and the UN, get together to discuss the global economy. ...

Minnesota Muslims Make the Switch Towards Eco-Friendly Ramadan

May 23, 2019
As the clock approached midnight, volunteers in the kitchen of the Islamic Center of Minnesota's women-only clubhouse washed silverware and ceramic plates to be used for the upcoming iftar. It made for more work, but that meant less trash after the traditional evening meal used to break the fast during Ramadan. "A few years ago, when we decided to organize iftars, we reached out to the community and asked for old plates, silverware, dishes and cutlery. We have been using them since. People are used to the convenience of using plastic or paper plates. They want the easy way out."CLUB ICM Director Sally Hassan Mosques and Islamic centers across the state of Minnesota are becoming increasingly minimal or zero-waste. Organizers are coming up with way to ensure that Ramadan does not include any overflowing garbage bags, piles of plastic bottles, or wasted and uneaten food at the nightly events that draw anywhere from handfuls to hundreds of people. According to the US Department of Agriculture, Americans waste more than a third of all food. The US Environmental Protection Agency, estimated that food comprised 22 percent of all trash sent to landfills back in 2015, more than any other single material. Against this information, Muslims in the Twin Cities, and beyond, are creating "green teams" to gradually switch over to eco-friendly mealtime habits. "As Muslims, we have to be stewards for this earth. You cannot be a good practicing Muslim and not take care of planet Earth. The two do not match."CLUB ICM Director Sally Hassan The Indiana-based Islamic Society of North America has been reaching out to mosques and Islamic centers to join the campaign "Greening Our Ramadan" by adopting practices like conserving food; using relatively quick-degrading paper; and giving a khutbah, or Friday sermon, on the Islamic imperative to conserve and protect the environment.Muslim or not, it is imperative to protect the environment and save the health of our planet. Custom Earth Promos can help. Outside of the mosque community, restaurants have also rolled out green initiatives. Owner of Indian/Bangladeshi restaurant Gandhi Mahal in Minneapolis, Ruhel Islam, stated that he has been following a zero-waste approach since he opened the restaurant in 2008. His iftar buffet features compostable dishes, small portions, and cooking oils are recycled into bio diesel. Many of the herbs used are grown in the basement's aquaponic facility. "I grew up in Bangladesh in a community which grows its own food and believes in reducing carbon footprints."Gandhi Mahal Owner Ruhel Islam Depending upon things such as budget and manpower, Islamic centers are adopting ranges of practices including completely ridding themselves of plastic, to composting, to sorting recyclables out of their trash.Rid yourself of plastic by replacing your bags the next time you go to the store. "We choose to serve our guests at our buffet, offering modest portions first, and allowing ...

Our Most Eco-Friendly VP Has Raised $1bn for Eco-Friendly Investment

May 21, 2019
Generation Investment Management, co-founded by our most eco-friendly politician and former US Vice President Al Gore, has raised $1 billion for its latest private equity fund to back sustainable start-ups. Generation Investment Management Sustainable Solutions Fund III will invest between $50 million and $150 million in companies helping the health of the planet or individuals, or those driving financial inclusion.Make an eco-friendly investment in your business by getting your promotional items from Custom Earth Promos. "We believe that we are at the early stages of a technology-led sustainability revolution, which has the scale of the industrial revolution, and the pace of the digital revolution."Former US Vice President and Generation Investment Management Co-Founder Al Gore The company was founded in 2004 alongside the head of Goldman Sachs' asset management business, David Blood. Its headquarters are in London, England, and there is an office in San Francisco, California. Previously backed businesses include Ocado, DocuSign, and Asana.Ocado is an online grocery store, but make sure if you visit a physical store, you take reusable bags with you. The fund has invested in Switzerland based health technology business Sophia Genetics. Generation Investment Management led a $77 million investment round into this company, which uses artificial intelligence to analyse health data in one of five different areas, including pediatrics and two types of cancers. The investment occurred in January, just days after Dr. Mike Lynch, founder of the software company Autonomy, stepped down from the board of his company. Dr. Lynch is facing 17 different fraud indictments from the US Department of Justice. These are all connected to HP's acquisition of Autonomy. Lynch is denying allegations. Generation's new fund has also led a $100 million investment round into Andela, which allows companies to hire software engineers across all of Africa. The funding round also included investment from number one female tennis player Serena Williams' fund, Serena Ventures. The demand to invest in sustainable ventures is growing, especially in Europe, even if the definition of "sustainable ventures" varies. For Al Gore's company, target companies provide "goods and services consistent with a low-carbon, prosperous, equitable, healthy and safe society."

Make the Switch to Electric with America's Most Eco-Friendly Cars

May 16, 2019
Electric vehicles have been around almost as long as their gas hungry siblings. Unfortunately, technical limitations, such as battery size and efficiency, have hindered the adoption of what is clearly a cleaner, more efficient form of fuel-powered transportation. Today, thanks to innovations in how electricity is collected, stored, and discharged, the planet has entered a new era of mobility. Innovations, including high-energy lithium-ion battery cells, the development of battery charging networks, and engineering breakthroughs such as hybrid drive-trains and regenerative breaking, are rapidly making both electric and hybrid vehicles more attractive. Most of the world's automakers either already produce, or are developing, Earth friendly transportation. With today's new hybrid technologies, it is possible to drive the equivalent of over 40 miles per gallon! Fully electric cars have even better millage, able to reach equivalencies of over 100 miles per gallon! But, what if you are tired of always buying gas, or are against fossil fuels, or want to switch to electric to help curb pollution, and don't know how? The following article is a list of the USA's 18 most eco-friendly vehicles from 2018, as compiled by USA TODAY. (In a few cases, multiple versions of a given model have different fuel efficiencies, all of which were high enough to make the list. In those cases, only the most fuel efficient model is listed.)Need a place to store your keys? Make sure your lanyard is eco-friendly by choosing recycled and organic materials and store it in a reusable bag when you aren't wearing it. If you live in Florida, you might want to keep an umbrella in your new car (All figures come from the US Environmental Protection Agency's annual review of fuel economy for all passenger vehicles sold in the United States to determine the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market for the 2018 model year. For electric vehicles, the fuel efficiency figure listed is in MPGe, or miles per gallon equivalent, a metric developed by the EPA to translate the fuel economy of vehicles running exclusively or partially on electricity into miles per gallon of gasoline.) 18. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Type: Midsize Hybrid SedanFuel/Energy Efficiency: 46 mpgAnnual Fuel Cost: $900 The Chevy Malibu Hybrid is one of two Chevrolet vehicles on this list. The 80-cell 1.5 kWh (kilowatt hour) lithium-ion battery pack provides extra millage compared to the 30 mpg non-hybrid version. The battery can run on speeds of up to 55 miles per hour (mph) alone before the gas engine kicks in. The 2019 version costs $28,000; about $6,000 more than the gasoline only version. The car earns a rating of Excellent from Motor Trend. 17. Honda Accord Hybrid Type: Large Hybrid SedanFuel/Energy Efficiency: 47 mpgAnnual Fuel Cost: $900 Honda also has two vehicles on this list. The hybrid version of one of America's best selling cars carries an ...

Take a Green Vacation Across the Big Blue and Stay Smart in London

May 14, 2019
Newly opened near Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor of London, in the City of London, England, the Vintry & Mercer feels like the cooler edgier answer to its sister hotel: The Ampersand, in South Kensington, England. It was named after two of the honorable guilds that were founded in the area many years ago. The hotel nods at the landed gentry, while also providing a fresh, youthful energy for the enthusiastic crowd that sleeps between its doors. The hotel is situated in an area full of high rises and chain restaurants, so the subway tiles and potted plants, and factory style windows and Art Deco furniture have been well received as representative of the millennial generation it is hoping to appeal to. As a new building, the architects had the benefit of being able to design the hotel the way they wish without being subject to the old structures and systems. This has allowed it to be eco-friendly. It is run completely on renewable electricity, which has multiple sources, including biomass, wind and solar generators, and rooftop solar panels. The food and drink is locally sourced and as seasonal as possible. All of this helps them reduce their carbon footprint.Reduce your carbon footprint while advertising your business by purchasing your promotional items from Custom Earth Promos. The building boasts 92 rooms, ranging in size from standard doubles all the way up to superior suites. While not quite as roomy as other places to stay, the rooms aren't small or cramped. Everything has been designed to fit together seamlessly and maximize space. The "jewel in the crown" of this hotel is the Mercer Roof Terrace, a restaurant and bar whose outdoor seating area overlooks the city skyline. It is accessible by both guests and the general public. Their menu features the best of modern British cuisine using meat and fish straight from the British Isles. Their weekday lunch features local produce, farm-to-table meat, fresh fish, and seasonal veggies. Their weekend lunch includes local produce and fresh ingredients.If you are looking for a more casual meal, Vintry Kitchen is an Asian Tapas, or Dim Sum, style menu. The wine poured in this location is straight from large barrels lining the gantry. The portions are small and perfect for sharing, ensuring not much, if anything, is wasted.On your next trip to the grocery store, keep your food miles low by using reusable bags made from recycled and eco-friendly materials. There isn't much in the way of entertainment when it comes to the Vintry & Mercer, but it is worth venturing into the surrounding area. Being part of the City of London leaves them close to local attractions, such as Leadenhall Market, a local covered walkway housing both designer and independent boutiques with plenty of pedestrian access. They aren't far from St. Paul's Cathedral, which has stood for over 1,400 years. The River Thames is only a 5 minute walk, and London Bridge can be reached ...
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