A Better Use for Glass

The statistics are staggering. They state that glass is one of the very few products that can be recycled over and over. However, glass, along with plastic, takes the longest time to decompose in landfills.

The Green Glass Company, based out of Northern Wisconsin, takes in used glass and creates amazing, usable glassware. The Green Glass Company is the largest producer of reclaimed glassware in the world.

From vases to votive candle sets, they create a variety of unique products. Owners Severine Zaslavski and Oscar Wientjes are committed to keeping the entire glass conversion process environmentally-friendly. All of the bottles they use are from the waste stream.

During the process, the entire bottle is used. The top of the bottle is used as a vase while the bottom creates a tumbler.

Even beer bottles are recycled by The Green Glass Company and made into tumblers. They specialize in Sol, Copenhagen, Red Stripe Light, and Boylan.

Take a look at all of our Green Glass Company products. You may also choose to donate used glass to the company. Find out what glasses they are looking for.

We look forward to hearing from you about this green company or others. Please leave a comment expressing your opinion of the Green Glass Company or a green company with a similar mission.

Gabrielle’s Story

I recently stumbled across an online video called Gabrielle’s Story. It tells the story of one woman who looked back at the habits of prior generations in order to minimize her own footprint on the earth.

The story inspired me to reexamine my own consumption habits and to compare them with those of my mother and grandmothers. I sincerely hope it can have the same impact on you. The world has changed dramatically in the last 50 years, and the average person’s mindset has shifted in relation to consumption.

As evidenced by our use of plastic bags, disposable silverware and paper napkins, as well as the large amount of “stuff” we own, it is clear we live in a consumption-driven society.

According to the Sierra Club, the average American buys 53 times as many products as someone in China. Futhermore, one American’s consumption of resources is equal to that of 35 individuals from India.

How can we bridge this gap and learn how to be happy with less “stuff”?

Take a look at Gabrielle’s Story to see some of tips I drew from watching it. Then, please share your own tips in our comments section.

Here are some ideas of ways we can all make small adjustments in our lives and get back to our “grandma’s consumption habits”.

• Use non-disposable bags whenever shopping. Remember that all types of stores use plastic bags, not just grocery stores.
• Plant your own garden! Do you remember the days of walking through your grandma’s garden and picking vegetables and fruit right off the vines?
• Buy less. Remember when Grandma used to mend socks and jeans tears rather than go out and buy new pairs? It is this type of mentality we need to go back to in order to consume less. Sure, a new pair of jeans may be only $15, but you are still consuming more and wasting a mendable pair.
• Use cloth napkins.
• Use cloth handkerchiefs.
• Hang laundry outside to dry.
• Run short errands on your bicycle.
• Reuse old t-shirts and socks as cleaning rags.
• Support local farmers by shopping at farmers’ markets or joining a CSA organization. This will cut back on transportation pollutants and energy as well as packaging materials.
• Buy a reusable water bottle rather than plastic bottles.
• Don’t waste food.

We can all choose not to participate in the “throw-away” mentality prevalent in our society. As Gandhi once said: “Be the change.”

Non-Toxic, Eco-Friendly Children’s Gifts

In a recent study, performed by the Ecology Center, medium to high levels of toxic chemicals were found in one in every three children’s toys tested. The chemicals included lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic.

There is no place for chemicals in children’s toys. To prevent exposing your child to a harmful chemical from something as simple as a holiday toy, choose toys that are made from organic, non-toxic materials.

All children’s toys available on OrganicBug.com are safe for children. Here are five of our favorites.

MiYim Organic Cotton Plush Sleepytime Charlotte Collection

When your child cuddles up at night with a Plush Sleepytime Bear, you can be assured your child is not breathing in toxins, chemicals or dyes. Each bear is made from naturally colored, buttery-soft organic cotton. The organic cotton is untreated, unbleached and unprocessed with color dyes acquired from nature. Bears are approximately 12 inches tall.

MiYim Dr Seuss “The Cat in the Hat” Eco-Plush Toy

The Cat in the Hat Eco-Plush Toy is a very popular gift item. Spark a child’s interest in reading by giving this fun, cuddly toy. The Cat in the Hat Eco-Plush Toy is made from natural cotton that is untreated, unprocessed and unbleached. Colors on the toy are derived from natural plant and mineral sources. Made with a polyester fiber filling, The Cat in the Hat Toy is eco-friendly and safe for your child.

Maple Landmark Woodcraft Classic Tic Tac Truck

Put a little twist on the traditional game of Tic Tac Toe with the Tic Tac Truck. Trucks are made in Vermont, primarily from maple hardwood which is free from added chemicals and harvested from sustainable forests. The bed of the truck serves as the game board with round indentations where X and O game pieces may be inserted. Unlike plastic trucks, which can easily break or release chemicals, these wooden trucks will last for generations. The truck is approximately 9 inches long and weighs 2.75 pounds. It is recommended for children of three years and older.

Little Pickle Press 3 Book Series in a Little Pickle Bag

These three award-winning children’s books introduce kids to environmental issues. Books in the series include What Does It Mean To Be Global?, What Does It Mean To Be Green? and What Does It Mean To Be Present?. Books are packaged in an eco-friendly, global-minded book bag created with recycled PET and pursuant to fair trade practice.

Green Toys Recycled Fire Truck

The Recycled Fire Truck from Green Toys is made from 100% recycled plastic milk containers. Your kids will play for hours with this durable truck’s rotating roof ladder and lateral side ladders. There is no metal on the truck, and the plastic is non-toxic. The truck comes packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties.

Green Your Holiday Decorating

The holidays don’t have to make up half of your annual carbon footprint. Although getting in the spirit of the holidays often involves bright lights and lit-up outdoor plastic figures, there are ways to make your holidays environmentally friendly without forgoing the decorations. Follow these tips to keep your holidays green.

1. Reuse any old decorations.

2. Keep it real. A live tree actually is a relatively “green” choice. Most cut Christmas trees are grown on tree farms and are therefore not depleting forests. Old Christmas trees can be recycled by being ground into wood chips and used as mulch. Fake trees, however, require energy to produce and often contain petroleum-based materials. Most artificial trees are produced overseas and shipped to the United States. Visit GreenPromise.com to locate an organic Christmas tree farm.

3. Choose energy-efficient lights for holiday statues and string lights. Light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) are 90% more efficient that traditional holiday lights. LEDs also last significantly longer.

4. Use natural decorations over plastic decor. Try giving your home a winter feel with freshly cut evergreen boughs, handmade ornaments, fruit bowls, nuts, pine cones and poinsettias. After the holidays, compost the remaining plants.

5. Make a wreath from foliage rather than buying a new one. If you have pine trees, you may be able to cut off some of the lower branches and create a wreath out of them. Sticks from maple trees and vine plants can also have their limbs arranged to make a wreath. Arrange the clippings around a bent out clothes hanger.

6. Use soy candles for Hanukkah. Soy candles are not made from petroleum like paraffin candles. Also, the burning of soy candles does not increase the CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

7. Decorate your tree with popcorn and cranberry strings. Ornaments can be made from slicing an orange into very thin pieces. Place the orange slices in the oven at 180 degrees for a few hours and thread a piece of string through each orange and hang on the tree! The orange slices will also release a pleasant citrus smell.

8. Think green when giving out gifts. Of course, not everyone on your list might want a plot of land from the Nature Conservancy. However, there are plenty of other ways to give environmentally-friendly gifts. Many websites offer beautiful decorations, children’s toys or household products made from recycled materials. Your friends and family might also be impressed with the soft feel of organic clothing made from sustainable bamboo.

I Recycle, Do You?

Today, November 15, 2010, is a day to remember the forests, oceans, animals, lakes, streams, trees, deserts and all of the earth’s natural environments. It is a day to appreciate the natural beauty in the world, and it is a day to work towards preserving it. Today, November 15, 2010, is Keep America Beautiful’s America Recycles Day.

On America Recycles Day, millions of people pledge to increase their recycling habits at work, at home and while on the go. Events designed to educate and inspire others to recycle are held throughout the month of November in celebration.

America Recycles Day is the only day dedicated specifically to recycling promotion in the United States.

Please do your part. Here are ten ways to incorporate the three Rs into your life.

1. Reduce and reuse. Recycling should be a last option. Focus on reducing the amount that you consume. This could mean buying food from bulk bins and reusing containers to minimize packaging waste. It could also mean shopping at thrift stores to reuse goods. Rather than recycling plastic water bottles, purchase a water filter and eliminate your need for plastic water bottles completely.

2. Be aware of the recycling rules for your community. Each city has its own specific guidelines, and it decreases efficiency if non-recyclable products are placed in recycling bins.

3. Compost your food waste – your plants will love it.

4. Give away old clothes, furniture, books and other products to friends or through online sites such as Craigslist.

5. Make an effort to purchase items made from recycled materials.

6. Print double sided on paper and reuse “scrap paper”.

7. In addition to reusable grocery bags at the checkout, also reuse produce bags or choose not to place your fruits and vegetables in bags at all.

8. Use your own coffee mug.

9. Wash and rinse zip lock bags to reuse them.

10. Find creative ways to use old clothes. T-shirts can be made into scarves or skirts and a variety of clothes can be used to make quilts.

Inspire others to recycle as well. Here are some daunting statistics that may motivate even the non-recycler.

Aluminum Recycling Facts

- Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.
- An aluminum can that’s thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now.
- An aluminum can may be recycled an unlimited amount of times.

Paper Recycling Facts

- If all newspapers in the United States were recycled, it could save 250,000,000 trees every year.
- The average household throws away 13,000 pieces of paper each year.

Plastic Recycling Facts

- Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.

Glass Recycling Facts

- A modern glass bottle takes over 4,000 years to decompose.
- The mining and transportation of materials for glass produces approximately 385 pounds of waste for every ton of glass that is made. If recycled glass is substituted for just half of the raw materials, waste is cut by more than 80%.

The US produces the most trash in the world. This means that approximately 5% of the world’s population (Americans) create 40% of the world’s waste.

Source: Recycling Revolution

5 Tips For A Green Halloween

One of the most infamous holidays is just around the corner!  Halloween is full of traditions from costumes to candy, but very few of these childhood memories are often very green.  Here are 5 fun ideas to help green your Halloween this year!

1)      Take a trip to greenhalloween.org this year to prepare yourself and your family for a fantastic night of dress-up and community.  GreenHalloween offers fun tips for parents about costume planning, party hosting, green treats, and much more; it also has several resources covering a vast array of topics and issues to cover all of your Holliday needs.

2)      Decorate with reusable options instead of the usual streamers etc.  When you focus on decorations with longevity it saves you money and cuts down on resources.  Make sure to unplug fun lanterns and lights at the end of the night.  You could always be creative and recycle things artistically that would otherwise be waste.

3)      Common household candles used for jack-o-lanterns  use paraffin wax, which produces damaging chemicals while the candle burns.  This year, make the switch to natural soy candles; they’ll be less harmful on your lungs and better for Mother Earth.  You could double up your green efforts and buy your organic pumpkins from a local farmers market!

4)      Don’t be like the other folks around!  Halloween is a huge corporate holiday – any trip to Wal-Mart will clearly identify how much money can be made by the same mass-produced plastic costumes.  Be creative, save money, and stand out by designing your own costume – you’ll be surprised what kind of recycled gems are at your local thrift store.  Most store-bought costumes are made out of plastics and vinyl’s that can’t be recycled, and let’s be honest most people don’t really wear the same thing next year despite their good intentions.

5)      Trick-or-Treating is a great opportunity to be greener than you’ve been before.  Making your children their own unique carryall for their adventures saves on plastics and can be reused – they don’t take much space to store and can be fashioned from old pillowcases for those on a budget.  On the other end of things you can promote better life choices by not providing countless calories and teeth rotting candy to the families that come to your door – there are plenty of organic and environmentally friendly treats you can distribute (many in individual packages already)!

Have a fun, green, and safe Halloween this year!  Make sure to check out Organic Bug for some of your Halloween needs from sweet treats for your loved ones to jewelry for your great costume!

Donate Your Denim And Make A Difference Today!

When I started putting this blog together I wanted to do something fun like “5 Totally Hot Ways to Ditch Your Denim & Be Green About It…” Yes, that was actually the original title.  But as I researched, I came across something so very cool, that I couldn’t wait to share it with YOU.

I found COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.^® denim drive changing the world one pair of jeans at a time.  In 2006, a grassroots student organization took off educating students about the green and renewable values of denim.  Just one year later 14,556 articles of denim had been collecting, which nearly doubled the initial estimates.  The collected denim was then sent to a leader in the recycling community, Allen Company.  The denim was compacted into 1,000 lbs. bales and then shipped off to JBM Fibers where they would return the denim to its original cotton fiber state.  But, the quest isn’t quite over for the denim.  Finally Bonded Logic Inc. converts the denim into UltraTouch™ Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation.  The insulation is then used in houses built by Habitat for Humanity.

UltraTouch™ is composed of 85% recycled cotton fibers; it is an environmentally safe, itchy-free insulation that doesn’t have carcinogenic warnings, formaldehyde or chemical irritants.  It even insulates and absorbs sound up to 30% more than typical fiberglass insulation.  Most importantly, it is one of the ONLY insulation products with an active mold/mildew inhibitor.

The COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN.^® denim drive has rendered 270,617 articles of denim; these have produced over 585,000 sq feet of UltraTouch™ Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation and are now warming 540 homes in communities in need.  The denim drive was so successful that the organization has had to temporarily suspend collections.

Since collections have been suspended, start putting your old jeans aside now for when this gets going again.  If ever there was a fabulous and worthy cause that we could use our old clothes for, then this is it!  Donating your old jeans here not only renders a green and eco-friendly product, but it also specifically goes to help human beings build a home to stay safe and protected in.  I truly can not wait to donate my denim to them as soon as possible!

What is going Green, Anyway?

As the world turns, life is in fact getting greener. Homes are getting powered more and more by solar, people are buying more organic and local food and of course people are starting to buy non-toxic, sustainable and responsible products. Although this is a fantastic leap in the right direction, we all must slow down for a moment and make sure that we understand….why?

If all people understand why “living green” is so important for our species and for the world at large, it may just be the difference between the continuity of “living green” and letting it fizzle out as just another fad.

Going green is essentially the promotion of life. It promotes things like paying people the fair wages that they deserve and giving them a shot at building their own communities world wide. It promotes the protection of our ecosystem at large, this includes everything from animals, to plants, to outer space, to our air that we breathe everyday. It promotes the fair and equal treatment of all beings on earth whether we be a duck or a human. It promotes the growth and protection of our forests and wildlife areas and everything that lives in them.

Ok so now you may ask, how is me buying “green” contributing to all of this. Well, that is an excellent question. By buying, living, thinking and acting green in every move that you make you are basically creating a domino effect. You buying a head of organic locally grown broccoli is not going to save mother earth. But it is a statement amidst a large speech that they world is listening to. Not only that, but when you live and buy green, you are basically asking for the demand to raise for responsible, green products. You are asking other people to innovate and create more green companies and ideas that will further the protection and sustainability of our planet.

Companies more and more are doing things like printing on recycled, post consumer paper. Or only selling non-toxic, sustainable and fair trade products. Or even nearly halting the amount of green house gasses that are currently put out everyday with a machine. Or offsetting the carbon that they do put out into the world, kind of a “payback” system.

No matter which way you look at it, going green makes sense, but understanding why and setting the intention can make the largest difference in the history of the world. So, push the domino over and get started.

Not Too Late to Honor Mom & Mother Earth on Mothers Day!

Wow!   Mothers Day is this weekend…should I rush out and buy a gift, wrap it and ship it to Mom (who deserves only the best by the way) ?  How about flowers?  Again? No?   Luckily it is not too late to honor your Mother by honoring Mother Earth with a purchase of a gift that falls under the category of Fair Trade, Handmade, Made in the USA, Natural, Organic, Recycled or Sustainable. Read on for my top picks for Mom!

Fair Trade Gift for Mom

Why Fair Trade? Fair Trade utilizes social criteria and environmental principles that support a more equitable and sustainable economic structure that benefits people, their communities and the global markets.

MY PICK Caribbean Craft Sun Face Recycled Oil Drum Art Brighten your day with our handmade Sun Face Oil Drum Art! Craft artists design and sculpt these one-of-a-kind creations in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti using recycled oil drums. The natural patina and reflective sheen give each piece its sunny disposition that may be enjoyed in your home or garden. These talented Haitian artists continue the tradition of Oil Drum Art in their tropical Caribbean homeland. They work as employees and independent contractors for Caribbean Craft, a Fair Trade organization, developing their skills and providing a sustainable income for their families through the use of the available distribution network.

Handmade Gift for Mom

Why Choose Handmade? Handmade refers to an individual or group of skilled artisans who apply their craft to produce goods for the marketplace. Handmade is also used to identify artwork produced by individuals engaging their imagination to create aesthetic art within a particular discipline.

MY PICK: Bottled Up Designs Cobalt Glass Square Pendant & Earrings These one of a kind handmade creations by artist Laura Bergman. The vivid deep blue color of our Antique Cobalt Glass Square Pendant & Earrings comes from the broken remains of old Noxema bottles! In an effort to preserve the environment and protect an area rich in wildlife, Laura reclaims whole and broken bottles from old glass dumps found in wooded habitats and rural farmlands near her home in Pennsylvania Amish country. As a master glass cutter Laura polishes and molds the recycled glass to eliminate any sharp edges. She then skillfully mounts the glass in delicate spirals of sterling hoops to produce exquisite pendants and earrings that catch the light with every move!

Made in the USA Gift for Mom

Why Made in the USA? Made in USA identifies products made in the US that contribute to a stable US economy.

MY PICK: Fire & Light Recycled Glass Heart in Lavender This is a most elegant way to say I Love You Mom! The translucent recycled glass lavender hearts are handmade by a community of Fire & Light artisans in Arcata, California. Artisans skillfully etch the words Fire & Light onto each completed piece. A totally classy & Heartfelt gift!

Organic Gift for Mom

What Does Organic REALLY mean (is it just a marketing term?)  Organic implies food and other items derived from raw materials that are wild-crafted or organically grown. The processes used minimize damage to the environment and improve the quality of life for the workers and animals involved.

MY PICK: Truly Wize Mother’s Day Super Star Gift Box Give Mom a beautiful gift box of three dozen assorted gourmet organic cookies freshly baked especially for her. And yes, she needs three dozen because in true MOM style, she will give some away and you want her to have plenty to savor and enjoy for her wonderful self! The gift box is bursting with eight hand decorated star shaped Sugar Cookies, seven melt-in-your-mouth Chocolate Truffle Cookies, seven sinfully rich signature Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies (that have been featured on the Rachael Ray Show), a sweet selection of seven Iced Spring Thumbprint Soft Vanilla Cookies and seven refreshing Orange Blossom Cookies~crisp drops on the outside; soft & chewy on the inside with a fresh orange flavor. YUM!

Natural Gift for Mom

What Does Natural Mean? Natural refers to products manufactured using materials and ingredients produced conventionally but without added chemicals or synthetics, lessening their environmental impact.

MY PICK: Pangea Organics Bar Soaps Everything in these Pangea Organics Bar Soaps has been chosen with mindful intention to give you the purest, most nourishing soap possible. The gentle cold processing methods preserve the natural healing properties of each customized blend so that the benefits reach the body instead of getting boiled off, leaving the skin soft and the environment smiling. As the most trusted organic skincare line on the market Pangea Organics has been featured in more than 130 publications including Body + Soul, Jane, Natural Health and O, The Oprah Magazine! The company has enjoyed 11 television and radio segments on shows like The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Get Fresh with Sara Snow, The Isaac Mizrahi and The View. Additionally, Pangea Organics has received 12 awards honoring their high performance products and progressive efforts to find sustainable business solutions in every facet of their company.

Recycled Gift for Mom

Why Recycle?  Recycled is the reusing of materials to make new products, saving our precious natural resources and raw materials. Recycling uses less energy, decreasing oil dependence; reduces landfill, curbing leaching of contaminants into the soil and water supply; and improves air quality through the reduction of toxic incinerator emissions.

MY PICK: Rebagz Juice Pack Small Tie Totes This is the smaller more compact version of our wildly popular Large Tie Tote! Hollywood celebrities, sports stars and other notables have been seen carrying around our eco-friendly Rebagz! America Ferrera of Ugly Betty fame, Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria, Debra Messing, Jaime Pressly, Kate Walsh and Serena Williams to name just a few! Playful yet sophisticated, whichever one you choose will maintain its fresh and sassy look for years to come! Well-made, vibrant, fashionable and functional are just some of the ways to describe these water-resistant handmade creations.

Sustainable Gift for Mom

Why Sustainable?  Sustainable manufacturers strive to produce products in an environment that provides social and economic benefits while practicing environmental stewardship.

MY PICK: CobraHead Weeder and Cultivator-Long Handle The long hoe-type handle is a dream for gardeners with limited kneeling and bending ability~this amazing tool allows you to get back out there and enjoy gardening again! Additionally, it’s a bonus for agricultural workers because it weeds deeply and precisely next to valuable crops without damaging the crop or its root system. This reptilian head is like having a “steel fingernail” at your service, doing the work of a whole collection of garden tools! And get this! The long handle comes in three lengths to accommodate your height, all at the same great price:

Free Gift Message Cards are available…..

Rebagz is Changing the World With Style

Each month, we highlight artists, companies and products that truly exemplify what the Organic Bug mission is all about. This month we have chosen to feature Rebagz Eco-Chic Handbags…a line of brightly colored durable totes, packs, handbags and wallets made from woven recycled juice packs, recycled nylon rice sacks, recycled paper and PET plastic.

It is incredible how easily trash can be transformed into an array of eco-chic fashion statements! One of our favorite pieces from the Rebagz collection is the super stylish Carry Anything Anywhere Bag and we want to share a chance to WIN one of these multi-purpose totes with our loyal Organic Bug friends.

To enter for a chance to win this coveted bag  (a $94 value) be sure to visit- How to Win!  Giveaway – Organic Bug – Rebagz Carry Anything Anywhere Bag – Ends 3/14/10

Here are some of the many reasons we love Rebagz! And, if you don’t already own one, you will definitely want one when you see how eco- and human-friendly the company is:

1.  Rebagz handbags are manufactured using fair trade guidelines: The manufacturer in the Philippines is committed to paying employees a fair wage and providing a safe and healthy work environment….in other words, this is a company that puts people first.  By supporting Rebagz, you are contributing to the financial well-being of the women they employ, along with their families and their community at large.

2.  Rebagz handbags are environmentally sustainable: Made using recycled juice packs, rice sacks, paper + PET plastic, each Rebagz design incorporates lots of eco-friendly materials. Even the loop and button closure on the Carry Anything Anywhere Bag is expertly crafted from woven recycled juice packs.

Recycling uses less energy, decreasing oil dependence; reduces landfill, curbing leaching of contaminants into the soil and water supply; and improves air quality through the reduction of toxic incinerator emissions.

3.  Rebagz handbags are well made and functional: The entire collection of Juicy Hand Woven bags are water resistant, easy to clean, and durable!  The Carry Anything Anywhere Bag is so versatile you’ll wonder what you ever did without one. Since it is unlined it can easily be wiped clean inside and out making it useful for just about anything: gardening, the beach, a gym bag, overnight bag, shopping bag, commuter tote, the list goes on & on!

4. There is a fabulous Rebagz Eco-Chic Handbag for every occasion: Beautiful detailing, vibrant, fashionable and functional are just some of the ways to describe these amazing creations. Larger bags are multi-purpose, mid-size bags are the perfect size for bopping around town and mini bags can do double time as wristlets or cosmetics travel bags!

Learn more about the talented Rebagz creator, Marty Stevens-Heebner, on our Rebagz Brands Page and hear Marty in her own words below!

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