IKEA plastic bags

IKEA to Charge for Plastic Bags in the US starting March 15

Photo: Midamericanenergy.com

In a move Sustainable is Good strongly supports, IKEA announced starting March 15, all IKEA stores in the United States will charge a nickel per plastic bag in an effort to get people to haul their Swedish Fish and affordable housewares out of the store in reusable bags and cut down on plastic bag waste. IKEA projects that they'll cut plastic bag use by at least 50%, from 70 million bags a year down to 35 million bags.

Read about what is required to make plastic shopping bags - it may surprise you.

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Australia to Ban Sale of Incandescent Light Bulbs

Australia to Ban Incandescent Light Bulbs

The Australian government today announced they will be phasing in a ban on incandescent light bulbs, over the next three years. Householders replacing them with compact fluorescent bulbs are expected to save $30 per year, while Australia reduces its per annum CO2 emissions by up 4 million tonnes.

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Whole Foods to acquire rival Wild Oats for $565 million

Natural-foods grocer Whole Foods Markets Inc. on Wednesday said that it agreed to acquire smaller rival Wild Oats Markets Inc. for about $565 million, as it grapples with competition from larger conventional supermarkets.

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ecolution

Ecolution Hemp Products

ecolution is a company that focuses on making natural textile products in the most environmentally sound way possible. Hemp is is the fastest growing agricultural crop and is low impact on the land as it requires no chemicals in its cultivation.

ecolution makes a large range of products from personal accessories like this hemp checkbook holder to a full line of clothing for both men and women. The company is an innovator with operations in Transylvania, Romania and the United States - they are focused on providing their employees a solid place to work and grow with the company. Their products are available at a wide range of retailers nationwide.

klean kanteen

Klean Kanteen

The stainless steel alternative to plastics is what Klean Kanteens are all about. After multiple reports confirmed that plastics leach toxic chemicals over time people began searching for an alternative. And Klean Kanteen was born. These guys make a whole line of stainless steel drinking bottles including a sippy cup for infants.

All of their products are made from high quality, sanitary grade 304 stainless steel. 304 has a low nickel content and is preferred by breweries and dairies. 304 stainless steel is easy to clean, durable, inert and sanitary. It is also environmentally correct - since stainless steel does not require harsh cleaners to clean the surface, there is little to no production waste that could have an environmental impact. Klean Kanteens come with a variety of options for the top made of polypropylene #5 because it has no known leaching characteristics and is softer on your mouth and teeth if you hit a bump on the trail. If you’d rather avoid plastic altogether, a stainless steel screw-on lid is available as an accessory.

I have the 27 oz Klean Kanteen which is tall and slim with the "sports cap" top. It works great I have been using it now for about a week and am very happy with it. These Kanteens are designed with the user in mind with wide necks so you can put ice cubes in them easily, they fit most bicycle water bottle cage/carriers and are lightweight my 27oz one only weighs 8oz.

innodesk

Innodesk Dust Blower - Eco-Friendly Replacement to Compressed Air!

Here is a product I just love the dust blower from Innodesk. Innodesk is a company in Ohio that specializes in making innovative products for the office and home. Their dust blower is one of those products - it eliminates the need for canned compressed air! Canned compressed air is a very useful product for anyone who uses electronics often, however it is not a good product from an environmental standpoint. Innodesk's dust blower is battery operated using 4 AA batteries and it is as powerful as the traditional compressed air dust blower. I pair my Innodesk with energizer rechargeable AA batteries and it packs quite a punch! I use mine for computer keyboards, my camera equipment and various other handy uses. The design on this blower is smart, simple and efficient. Check it out, information on where to get one is available from Innodesk.

loofah art

Loofah-Art

photo: rider thompson

Here is a product that embodies everything sustainableisgood.com is about - Loofah-Art. Loofah-art are the first USDA Organic natural scrubbers for kitchen, cleaning fruits and vegetables, bath, household use. Made from the luffas (also spelled loofah) plant which is an annual vine whose vegetable is harvested and either eaten (sometimes called Chinese Okra) or dried and used as a sponge type item - like Loofah-Art. There is a common misconception out there that loofah is a sponge from the sea, this is not the case its a vegetable.

These Loofah-Art scrubbers are grown and processed in Paraguay. The makers say because of the longer and finer textured fibers that resist wear, Loofah-Art products are the strongest, most resilient and pliable natural kitchen scrubbers on the market.

The scrubbers are gentle enough to scrub fruits and vegetables eliminating the need to peel away the valuable nutrients found in their skins, tough enough to clean dirty dishes and pots and pans and safe enough to use on delicate surfaces and seasoned cast iron pots or pans.

Loofah-Art employs several hundred Paraguayan farmers who organically grow and process the loofah sponges. Their fabricating facility in Paraguay employs the local women who hand-process, sew and finish the products and package them for shipment. The product is made of 100% organic loofah and colored using 100% natural vegetable dye coloring. Loofah-art is worth checking out.

Please feel free to post on stores where you can find Loofah-Art products. They are available at some of the major household stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, and Home Goods stores. Also check out their website.

archer farms organic

Organic Hits Target Stores with Archer Farms

Archer Farms Organic Raspberry fruit strips are this weeks focus on value organic products. Sold by Target stores in the US under their brand Archer Farms, these organic fruit strips are made in Canada. Containing apple, raspberry and a relatively low amount of sugar (8g) I find them to be pretty darn good. At $2.99 for (10) they are a solid value. The taste is what you would expect from an organic fruit strip with low sugar. I find them very good, but they certainly aren't like the fruit roll-ups of the 80s.

seki edge

Seki Edge Scissors

Do it yourself haircutters and those who like to handle the touch ups themselves listen up. These Seki Edge scissors are the answer. I know from personal experience of having friends cut my hair from time to time to keep costs down or just do a touch up -how painful an experience it can be trying to use dull paper cutting scissors to cut hair! Well no more dull scissors these scissors made in Japan cost about $35 (basically the cost of one haircut these days) and they are simply amazing. Perfectly balanced lightweight and super sharp. Made of twice- tempered stainless steel the blades are hand-finished.

Made in the legendary samurai steel making region of Seki, Japan these are truly useful high performance instruments. Well worth looking into and using on your next do it yourself haircut.

eureka 71A vacuum

Eureka 71A Hand-Held Vacuum

This is one cool hand-held vacuum. Let me say it clearer, this is hands down the best hand-held portable vac we have ever owned. The design on the Eureka 71A is amazing, the industrial designers on this project deserve a raise they got this one right let me tell you. It does everything is ergonomic, bagless so it doesn't create unneeded waste, powerful and efficient not overkill for normal daily tasks, lightweight and did I say well designed?

There are so many little things on this vac like the fact the front visor pivots to control the suction either vertical or horizontal, the fact you can have the spinning brush on or off depending on your needs, the fact the vac guides across flat surfaces like a hovercraft its so smooth, the hose disconnects for specialized tasks, the collection chamber pops off and empties effortlessly and the cord easily wraps around the unit for storage. I just love this thing, its powerful, efficient and doesn't create needless waste from bags. Way to go Eureka - oh its also inexpensive - about $50 from Amazon.com.