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Global Green Pals

Barbara Feiner — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:33:31 +0000

I’ve taken a break from Thanksgiving menu planning to begin my eco-friendly holiday gift list.

The first item is Global Green Pals, five international-themed dolls made from organic cotton and stuffed with 100% post-consumer recycled plastic (i.e., PET bottles, usually used for soda and other beverages).

Each 12-inch, machine-washable doll wears clothing and accessories made from organic, natural and tested fibers, as well as low-impact dyes.

Both male and female Pals are available:

Clean Air Kate wears a sweater, denim pants, a matching hat, hiking boots and a backpack. She’s a Chicago girl who rides a bike and plants trees with her family.
Pink Coral Laurel is an Australian snorkeler who cares about marine life, coral reefs, climate change and global warming. She’s dressed in a pink swimsuit, matching swim shorts, flippers, mask and snorkel.
Recycle Kyle is a Seattle skateboarder and dedicated recycler. He wears a T-shirt that sports a recycling symbol, shorts, sneakers and a recycling bag.
Carbon Offset Chet is an English pilot who flies a solar-powered plane in his T-shirt, bomber jacket with hood, pants, red bandana and aviator goggles.
Pani Rani is an Indian princess who helps conserve water. She wears a South Asian dress, sandals and hair bows, and she carries a fabric water bucket.

Each doll comes with an educational recycled-paper tag that explains his/her story. The company donates 1% of annual sales to One Percent for the Planet.

Bioplastic, Liquid Wood

Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:49:28 +0000

With plastic toys turning up toxic and non-biodegradable shopping bags jamming landfills, German scientists have developed something called bioplastic, or liquid wood. It’s made using waste material from the paper-making process and includes taking wood pulp, mixing it with hemp, flax or wood fibers and other additives to make a nontoxic wax that can be used to create a material similar to petroleum-based plastics. A German company named Tecnaro invented liquid wood, or Arboform as it’s officially known, and they’re currently working on perfecting the technique. But, it’s already being used to make things like car parts, golf tees and ballpoint pens. And, as MSNBC reports, they recently used liquid wood to make intricate figurines for a holiday Nativity scene. Via SustainableBusiness News.

Trash to Toys…

Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:17:24 +0000

It’s the day after Christmas. Your fingers are probably paper cut from unwrapping gifts and next to your heap of goodies is most likely an even bigger pile of packaging. But don’t just throw it away. There’s a better use for it. And no, it’s not recycling, at least not in the traditional sense. Donate it. Poor kids in Africa will happily make toys out of your throwaways. It’s the brainchild of Avik Maitra, a recent graduate from Colombia University, who during a fellowship in Africa, noticed local children making playthings from cigarette cartons and cornhusks. This gave him an idea. Create toys out of old junk and distribute them to local kids. His only requirements are that they’re cool, cute, forward-looking, fun, engaging, and imaginative. Amazing and heartwarming! For more, visit Avik at Radecology. Via inhabitat.