CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

Old fishing nets, plastic bottles, and threadbare tires. These aren't things you would even begin to think of as textiles, but one eco-minded fashion firm is turning that waste into jackets, sneakers, and flip-flops in a rainbow of colors. Spanish company Ecoalf has recently opened a store in Berlin, Germany, and according to spokeswoman Carolina Alvarez-Ossorio, "Plastic pollution is a huge topic right now--also within the industry." That industry would be the fashion industry. Participants in a green tour of Berlin sit on a massive sofa made out of repurposed plastic bottles. They are treated to a history of Ecoalf's firm and their environmental philosophy. All around them hang minimalist t-shirts and padded coats, also made out of plastic bottles. This plastic comes from 3,000 fishermen. They work along Spain's Mediterranean coast and catch liters in their nets along with the fish! Instead of throwing it back into the ocean, they now send it off to Ecoalf where it is processed into "sea thread." Ossorio stated, "The challenge is not finding garbage--that is everywhere--but having the technology to transform it." She added that the fishermen voluntarily take part in the process because they are concerned and worried about the worsening pollution they see. While Ecoalf is offering one solution, the company's founder, Javier Goyeneche, founded the company back in 2009 due to a surprising lack of available recycled clothing. Goyeneche found that less than one percent of clothing is currently turned into new garments. What he did find for sale contained as little as five percent reused materials. With news that our oceans will be more plastic than fish by the year 2050, companies like Ecoalf are doing their part to incorporate waste into their collections. Elusive designer duo Vin and Omi turn it into quirky, futuristic creations. More established designers, such as outdoor company The North Face, recently transformed the plastic bottles retrieved from three different American national parks into a line of t-shirts and bags. Sister company Patagonia has been using plastic to make their fleece jackets since 1993. Even if recycling plastic bottles into clothing has been an obvious helping hand in delittering our planet, it still leaves an ecological footprint--even if that footprint is smaller than the one made by conventional fashion industries. According to Vin and Omi, producing fabric made from recycled plastics uses 50 percent less energy and produces one-third less CO2 compared to using non-recycled plastics. Other big fashion houses, such as Target, Zara, and Primark, as well as footwear companies like Nike and Adidas. are also jumping on the green fashion trend. The companies are hiring sustainability experts and and flaunting their recycling credentials. Swedish fashion giant H&M plans to make its entire business "circular," which involves recycling their garments. Anna Gedda, head of sustainability, said that the success of ...

On September 10th, in Downtown Blaine, Washington, the owners of eco-friendly retailer Rawganique opened their first, and currently only, brick-and-mortar store in the United States. After more than two decades on Denman Island, British Columbia (in Canada), the owners of this organic, vegan, unique clothing line purchased the former Subway restaurant, located at 429 Peace Portal Drive. It's set up like a showroom, showcasing organic, chemical-free clothing and household wares available both in-store and online. The shop also features a cafe that serves vegan food, coffee, pastries, and ice cream. "What we're offering is a lifestyle store." claims co-founder Qeanu Wallner. Their products, he adds, impact "the way you eat, the way you are clothed, and the way you treat people." Wallner started Rawganique with with business partner Quo Yong Fu while homesteading on Denman Island back in 1997. Choosing to live off of the land, the pair made their own bed sheets, socks, and towels. This was due to chemical sensitivities. Their blog they had about their experiences caught traction and eventually began to inspire others who wanted to live a chemical-free lifestyle. The popularity came as a surprise to Wallner. Rawganique specializes in selling organic cotton, flax linen, and hemp products. These are manufactured in the United States, Canada, and Romania. Currently, the website features an estimated 1,200 products, including bedding, men's and women's clothing, kids' clothing, and footwear. Wallner and Fu's goal is to reach both those who have chemical sensitivities and those who prefer to live without chemicals such as formaldehyde and dioxin. These chemicals are often used to reduce wrinkles and preserve materials. A post from Wallner and Fu on the website reads: We are real, passionate people creating handcrafted clothing and organic products on a small scale. We don't take "no" for an answer when it comes to making natural fiber wearables that are cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, ethical, and sustainable. Up until 2015, the pair was still on Denman Island. They relocated to Point Roberts, Washington, but building restrictions led them to purchase not only their new retail store but also a warehouse last summer. Wallner has stated: Blaine is refreshingly international in outlook. We definitely felt the eco-conscious vibes when we visited and have met so many like-minded people here that we feel right at home. Hundreds of items are on display. These can be purchased in-store, or if certain sizes and/or quantities are not available, customers can purchase them from the website. Having the warehouse located down the street ensures quick delivery. The on-location vegan cafe serves salads, soups, small-batch ice cream, and other dishes made with a mix of raw ingredients that includes quinoa, greens, and beans. Silvia Gore, formerly of Blaine's Seaside Bakery and Cafe, makes the pastries. Eventually Wallner and Fu hope to open the space to local ...

With nearly 3,000 entries and 16,000 public votes, an eco-friendly bee haven has been crowned "Shed of the Year." Handmade by British firefighter George Smallwood, this Sheffield, England, shed pipes a converted black cab and an Irish pub to an esteemed position. Plus, it's a gardener's dream--self-watering, self-sufficient home for vegetables, herbs, and insects. [caption id="attachment_14241" align="alignnone" width="564"] (The Bee Eco Shed, the 2018 Shed of the Year)[/caption] The shed features two beehives, a vegetable patch, a "bug house", and on the roof is a wildflower garden. It took Smallwood and a friend two months of building, and the prize of £1,000 cash ($1,299.70 USD) and the 2018 title was a welcome surprise. "We hope our shed will inspire others around the UK to create spaces for wildlife in their gardens," says the firefighter. "We're so proud that our shed has become a habitat for nature in a small urban garden, showing you can always do your bit for making a home for nature." The annual competition features eight categories. These include eco-friendly creations, budget outbuildings, and historic style structures. Although the Bee Eco Shed took the top spot, competition was fierce. This included a Legoland inspired haven, an outdoor bedroom made from a black cab, and a literal glass house (made out of glass bottles.) "The competition was extremely tough this year, from a musical shed on the water, to a taxi, to an authentic Irish pub. George's shed stood out due to it's impressive, handmade structure but also because of its unique story and special purpose," says competition founder Andrew Wilcox. This Cuprinol-sponsored contest is now in its eleventh year. Cuprinol is a British brand of paint made specifically for outdoor structures such as fences and sheds. Some of this year's competition included: [caption id="attachment_14747" align="alignnone" width="474"] The Boat Pod, shortlisted in the unique category[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14247" align="alignnone" width="474"] The Shed and Breakfast, shortlisted in the Eco category[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14248" align="alignnone" width="474"] The Big Top Den, shortlisted in the Cabin and Summerhouses category[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14249" align="alignnone" width="474"] The Tudor Playhouse, shortlisted in the Budget category[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14705" align="alignnone" width="474"] The Rainbow Dream, shortlisted in the Workshop and Studio category[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14251" align="alignnone" width="474"] The Temple, shortlisted in the Historic category[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14855" align="alignnone" width="474"] The Taxi, shortlisted in the unexpected category[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14877" align="alignnone" width="474"] and O'Smithers, shortlisted in the Pub and Entertainment category[/caption] Last year's winner was The Mushroom Shed. This quirky hangout, ...

This weekend, Sunday the 9th, is the start of Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה)--the Jewish New Year. Celebrated on the first of Tishrei (September/October) (תשרי), this holiday marks the beginning of inner reflection and atonement for one's sins throughout the previous year. With modern attitudes becoming increasingly eco-conscious, one Rabbi is looking to change a common custom to make it more Earth friendly. Rabbi Eliana Jacobwitz from Somerville, Massachusetts, will lead her congregation to the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse on the Mystic River for Tashlich (תשליך), a centuries-old ritual where sins are symbolically cast into bodies of water. This year, members of Rabbi Jacobwitz's congregation will not be tossing the customary bits of stale bread, handfuls of breadcrumbs, or even left over matzah (מצה) from last Passover. (פסח) Instead, they'll be throwing little pebbles. Members of Temple B'nai Brith, a congregation in this Boston suburb with historic ties to conservatism, have likely been tossing bread into the river for well over a century! The shift from food to rocks, is a recent change that follows the city's new environmentally friendly rules that no longer allow bread to be tossed into the river. This is not only to protect fish but also to address other concerns people have with this practice. "Yes, our congregation is environmentally conscious and this was an appealing reason to change something we care about on a social justice level," says Jacobwitz. Practices to create an environmentally friendly tashlich are emerging beyond the city. Reports surfaced last year of a congregation in Ontario, Canada, using untreated wood chips in place of bread. Whatever they use, congregants aren't meant to think that this is to undercut the work of repentance. This repentance extends from Rosh Hashanah, to Yom Kippur (יום כיפור) ten days later. The subject was first raised three years ago when the Somerville Parks and Recreation Department notified the synagogue that tossing bread violated Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and local efforts to protect the environment. Feeding wildlife is harmful to their nutrition, leads to poor water quality, and disrupts the ecosystem. In addition to the harm it does to birds, animal feeding brought "an unintended invitation for animals around the boathouse," said Jill Lathan, the Parks and Recreation director, "including issues with geese on the docks." At the time, cleanup efforts were paying off. This included relentless pollution from industry, development, and storm drainage. The river scored an A-minus from the EPA just last year. This is up from the D it received 11 years earlier. The 7 mile long river flows through 22 towns just north and west of Boston until it eventually reaches Boston Harbor. In September of 2015, the city granted the synagogue a one-year waver, acknowledging its longstanding tradition of using bread for tashlich. Temple B'nai Brith assured the ...

Cathedral City, California, city council members voted unanimously to table a ban on plastic straws. If passed, the eateries--fast food restaurants, cafes, bars, even mom & pop locations--would have been banned from giving out plastic straws--including biodegradable and compostable options! This rule would also apply to organizations hosting events where the refreshments include drinks. The one exception to this rule concerns the disabled, who could receive a plastic straw upon request; and businesses would be allowed to give out straws made of other, non-plastic materials. While the city's straws are safe, for now, the issue came with passionate debate. Supporters claim that plastic straws are hard to recycle and pose environmental concerns. They brought up the amount of plastic that makes its way into the oceans and the damage this does to marine life. If you are one of the many hoping that plastic straws cease to exist, here are five alternatives to consider: 1. Reusable Straw Starter Kit by Impact Mill Collective This glass straw won't disappear anytime soon unless you lose it. Palm Springs, California, lifestyle blogger Nicole Bowen recommends this item because it has its own carrying pouch and cleaning brush. She says, "It's a heavy-weight, almost Pyrex-like glass that doesn't feel like it will break. Under $20. Long enough for a large iced coffee." The only cons found with this item is having to carry it around. And if you like going to happy hour? Be prepared for a straw much longer than a rocks glass. 2. Stainless Steel Straws by Magnum Steel According to Alena Maschke, a watchdog reporter from local California newspaper Desert Sun, these straws are unlikely to end up in the nose of a sea turtle or in a trash wave rolling onto a distant beach, "...which makes me sleep a tiny bit better at night." The cons? "The metal feels funny on your teeth at first, and you have to remember to clean and bring them with you every day. Otherwise, all feelings of moral superiority will go right out the drive-through window." 3. PastaStraws by The Amazing Pasta Straw Now you can sip your straw and eat it too! This all in one meal is made possible thanks to PastaStraws. One-hundred percent vegan, biodegradable, and surprisingly effective, these are better than flimsy paper or even pricy bamboo straws. There is even a premium version of the product, claimed to have "thicker walls, crispier edges, and a plastic-like texture while maintaining all the great eco-friendly properties of the original PastaStraw." A gluten free version is even in the works for those with Celiac disease. Sold in bulk, you can get them in quantities of 1,000. However, if you don't need quite so many straws, a sample package of 24 is available. 4. Simple Elegance Straws by Glass Dharma Coming in many sizes, as short as 6.25 inches all the way up to 10, and multiple widths, here is another glass option. Unlike Impact Mill Collective's starter kit, it doesn't come with a ...

A new eco-friendly alternative to six-pack rings is making its way onto store shelves. Eco Six Pack Rings, started in 2017 by three different groups, are made with all-natural ingredients. These include both straw and wheat fiber. While sturdy enough to hold six full-size cans, Eco Six Pack Rings are intended to fall apart if accidentally littered. This prevents them from creating the same environmental damage their plastic forefathers did. According to the company, "the product will degrade in less than 200 days (depending on the ecosystem)." Traditionally, plastic six-pack holders were considered the most efficient way to transport a half-dozen cans or bottles. However, evidence of their environmental damage has led for many to call for their elimination. They are potentially dangerous to turtles, seabirds, fish, and other wildlife that may come across them. A red-eared slider from Missouri named Peanut is a famous example. [caption id="attachment_14227" align="alignnone" width="600"] (Peanut's shell grew into this odd, peanut-like shape after spending years stuck in a six pack holder.)[/caption] Production began earlier this year in Mexico, and the product is marketed to both breweries and microbreweries around the world. The rings are biodegradable and compostable, and although not advertised as edible, the product would be much safer than plastic if it found its way inside the stomach of a seabird. "Everything is 100 percent natural, biodegradable, compostable, and if accidentally eaten by wildlife, it will be digested with no harm done," says Marco Vega of We Believers, an advertising firm involved in the project. The website for Eco Six Pack Rings includes information on breweries already using, or intending to use, the rings. These include Urban Alley Brewery in Melbourne, Australia; Rosebank Brewing Co. in Cape Town, South Africa; and several breweries in the United States, including Cross-Eyed Owl Brewing Co. in Decatur, Alabama, and Soundview Brewing Co. in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Saltwater Brewery in Delray Beach, Florida, uses the Eco Six Pack Rings exclusively. "Saltwater Brewery was founded in 2012 with a mission not only to brew good beer but to give back to our oceans," says spokesperson Katelyn Gove. "The Eco Six Pack Rings help to further our mission by keeping plastic out of our landfills and out of the sea."

Plants are the new plastic. Tokyo-based car accessory maker Mirareed started a project in 2014 to develop eco-friendly bioplastics using plants, among other biological resources. Some of these ingredients include: thinned Japanese cypress wood from Owase, in the Mie Prefecture; tea leaves from Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture; lotus root from Tsushima, Aichi Prefecture; rice hulls; and bark. These ingredients are crushed at Mirareed's plant in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture. They are then mixed with petroleum-derived plastic resin to create plastic pellets. The pellets are provided to molding firms, who turn them into and market them as construction materials to produce gardening goods and wood-like decks. 2.4 tons of pellets are produced a day! According to Katsumoto Higashiyama, Mirareed's president, "There is only a limited amount of oil resources. Use of bioplastics will also lead to reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions." Aggressive efforts are being made to develop not only bioplastic but also plastic that can be dissolved by microorganisms, such as pelagic plastics. These are generated when plastic waste is degraded and broken down into pieces 5 millimeters or smaller. Increasing attention is drawn as a cause of marine pollution. The European Commission has proposed a plan to ban the distribution of single-use straws, among other plastic items, accelerating the trend towards a plastic-free Earth. Mirareed's bioplastic, released in December of 2017, has received many inquiries among the rising interest of environmental preservation. This has led to plans to expand their production facilities. The company is looking to raise their annual bioplastic sales to 1 million yen ($9.04 million) by 2020. The Environment Ministry plans to increase domestic bioplastic shipping from 80,000 tons (in fiscal 2014), to 1.97 million tons by fiscal 2030. According to Mirareed officials, this will give the company a burst of momentum. Local wood producers, who provide ingredients for bioplastics, also welcome the company's efforts. Mirareed will also adopt bamboo produced in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, as an ingredient on a full-scale basis. This adoption will see them purchasing powdered bamboo from an area non-profit organization known as Sochikukai, which manages long-unattended to thickets. Sochikukai knocks down 6,000 bamboo each year and has been creating bamboo charcoal to sell for the use of soil improvement. Shigenobu Sakai, the company's vice chairman, says Mirareed's adoption of bamboo as an ingredient offers them a new option. "Many people are troubled by the issue of how to deal with felled bamboo," he says. "I am happy if the bamboos are effectively used." Leading Japanese chemical maker Kaneka Corp stated earlier this month that production capacity of their plant-derived plastics will increase fivefold. They expect demand will grow rapidly due to increasing attention drawn to the issue of plastic waste. This is evidenced by U.S. based ...

Ten-year-old South African, Hunter Mitchell, is showing the world that you are never too young to do right by the planet. Hunter's efforts have him earning the International Young Eco-Hero award, given out by the organization Action for Nature. Earlier this year he also won the Eco-Youth Gold award at the Eco-Logic Awards in Cape Town, South Africa. His mission began on Christmas Day 2015. He had heard about a baby rhinoceros who was abandoned by its mother in the middle of the night. Knowing it would die without help, he anxiously followed the rhino's progress on social media. His next move was raising money. Starting with his own pocket money, he began collecting from family and friends. He even set up a Facebook page for this little baby rhino, named Osita. Along the way he learned more about the poaching crisis and felt compelled to do even more. "My family has been converted into rhino mad warriors." claims Hunter. "Keeping rhinos, elephants, lions, pangolins, and so many more animals safe from extinction is going to need warriors, and I will always be one of those warriors. I am only ten and know my journey is just beginning." Hunter's love of rhinos certainly showed when he visited the Aquila Private Game Reserve where Osita was rescued. It was here that he opened a "rhino orphanage." It was here that conservationist Dan Grobler taught him how to care for rhinos. Hunter helps walk, feed, and cover these animals in a protective layer of mud. Hunter has made presentations to over 10,000 schoolchildren, locally and in Asia and Australia. He even met with environmentalist Bindi Irwin, daughter of zookeeper, reality TV star, and "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. He has filmed documentaries and videos he plans to distribute online, and he has organized a major event for World Rhino Day the past two years.

Across the pond, the University of Brighton, in Brighton, England, is the first gym to use their own equipment to supply their facility with power. Ringmer-based Eco Gym converts human energy to utility-grade electricity while clients exercise. About 74 percent of the energy produced is fed back into the grid! Eco Gym is among the first enterprises to benefit from grants from the university's Green Growth Platform. This initiative supports businesses in the "green-sector." A spokesman for Eco Gym has said, "We are taking the Eco Gym concept across the country. LoCASE and the Green Growth Platform have helped us get really helpful specialist advice on developing our business model and protecting our intellectual property." The platform is part of the European Regional Development Fund's Low Carbon Across the South East (Locase) business grant program. The program provides grants and business support to both small and medium-sized business committed to low carbon output. This is to help them grow and develop new products and services. It also provides grants and free environmental audits to help any of these types of businesses improve their environmental performance. With a second location in Lancing, in West Sussex, England, they make sure that every decision made contributes to making a positive difference to the planet. The gym uses energy-saving lighting and low water consumption showers. They do not advocate single use plastics on site and have a stock of reusable cups for water should you forget your water bottle. They also don't have trash cans, asking members and staff to take their garbage with them, and recycle where necessary. They also ask that anybody with ideas on how they can evolve their green efforts or who would like to work with them to feel free to contact them directly. They can be reached at 01273-625577 in Brighton, 01903-533141 in Lancing, or emailed at info@eco-gym.co.uk. "It just seems right that as advocates of a healthy lifestyle that we should take the same care with the environment as we do with our own bodies."

Mother's day is just around the corner. In exactly a week, we will be scrambling to purchase greeting cards and find presents that try to tell our mothers how much we appreciate all that they do for us. When it comes to buying gifts, however, being environmentally conscious isn't something everyone always thinks about. And choosing something that's both eco-friendly and stylish isn't always easy. Fortunately, it's becoming much easier these days, with companies across the globe quickly realizing people are shopping with their values in mind. These 6 gift ideas and products not only show your mom you care, but help reduce her carbon footprint. Mother Earth raised you too. A Quality Yoga Mat Made from 100% Recycled Wetsuits If your mom is all about personal and spiritual health, Sugamats makes 100% recycled and recyclable yoga mats. Made from non-biodegradable neoprene wetsuits, this mat won't start to smell after a session of the increasingly popular "beach yoga," like some of the non-sweat/water inclined materials out there do. Ethically Made Clothing That Shares Mom's Values Does mom need a new wardrobe? Is she just really into fashion? Wholesome Culture produces all of their clothing in Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) certified facilities. Using their clothing to help promote a plant-based lifestyle and diet, if you also care about animals--15% of their net profits go to animal rescue organizations. A Stylish Tote Bag Just in Time for Summer Leather is in style. But it's not very earth-friendly. What do we do about that? We skip it and purchase a tote bag from My Paper Bag instead. Made from a unique material--washable paper, and sourced from responsibly managed forests in Vermont, both mom and and mother earth are sure to thank you! A Subscription to Help Combat Food Waste More than 20 percent of fruits and vegetables grown in America never even make it off of the farm. Why? They don't meet grocery store beauty standards. This results in billions of pounds of food waste each year! With Imperfect Produce, mom can help fight this problem by choosing which ugly fruits and vegetables she wants to have delivered straight to her doorstep. They might not look great, but they still taste just as good. Sustainable Party Goods Does mom love to entertain? Now she can have the greenest party on the block with plastic-free, non-toxic products created with renewable or recycled content that are designed to biodegrade in a home or industrial compost. Susty Party's line of products includes tablewear, plates, cups, napkins, straws, and even garbage bags! Pencils That Grow into Plants When You're Done with Them Upgrade mom's collection of writing materials. Sprout creates pencils that help sprout plants as well as ideas. Once the pencil is nothing but a nub, place it graphite side up in a pot of dirt, and it will turn into anything from Forget Me Nots, to Coriander, to Cherry Tomatoes.