Sustainable is Good | Where design, lifestyle and packaging meet

ConAgra Frozen Foods Packaging using Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic

ConAgra Foods, makers of a number of popular frozen food brands including Healthy Choice and Marie Callender's have started incorporating post-consumer recycled plastic into its frozen meal trays.  The move is estimated to divert 8 million pounds of plastic from landfills annually. 

ConAgra Foods has begun to use between 30 percent and 40 percent post-consumer recycled plastic in nearly all of its frozen meal trays for Healthy Choice, Banquet, Kid Cuisine and Marie Callender's products.

Most frozen meals trays used by other companies are made of crystallized PET plastic, a material that uses only newly produced plastics and that requires more energy and resources to produce. ConAgra Foods is the only company in North America using post-consumer recycled plastic in frozen meal trays.

Post-consumer recycled plastic is packaging that has been used by consumers that primarily is sent to landfills, such as plastic bottles. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only about 30 percent of plastic soda bottles are recycled each year. Through these new meal trays, ConAgra Foods will use at least 8 million pounds of post-consumer recycled plastic annually.

ConAgra Foods partnered with Associated Packaging Technologies to utilize a new technology that cleans recycled plastic for use as a component in frozen meal trays. Older plastics technologies limited food companies to using only new plastic to comply with regulations for direct food contact materials. The new ultra-clean processing technology makes it safe for consumers to eat the prepared food directly from the frozen meal trays.

The new trays are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as direct food contact materials.

"Our commitment to innovation means we are looking at all aspects of our products as we consider new ways to improve them, including finding ways to be more environmentally responsible," said Gail Tavill, ConAgra Foods vice president, Sustainability.

"As a leading packaged foods company, ConAgra Foods can make a positive impact on the environment by finding new ways to reduce waste, and our new frozen meal trays with post-consumer recycled plastic will ensure that the equivalent of 128 million 20-ounce plastic bottles won't go to landfills each year."

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Renee Loux Easy Green Living

Renee Loux's Easy Green Living is a practical guide to incorporating green and more sustainable habits into all aspects of your home and lifestyle. 

Easy Green Living is written in a very effective style.  Its not threatening and in your face like some other books on the subject and Loux doesn't take the doom and gloom approach.  She is very approachable in her writing.  The book reads as if it were a knowledgeable friend providing advice and because of this I think it has wide appeal.

Living a more sustainable life is new to many people and Loux respects that in her writing not talking down to readers who many have just realized the benefits of making a lifestyle change.  Just the same seasoned readers who have already incorporated green tendencies into their lifestyle will find Easy Green Living an informative resource with many suggestions on how to continue their pursuit.

Well over 300 pages of information including suggestions and recommendations for specific resources and products await the reader in Easy Green Living.

Loux has written two other books, Living Cuisine and The Balanced Plate and is the host of It's Easy Being Green on Fine Living.

She is known for her whole-foods philosophy and brings that same logic to the home, garden and even beauty routines.  Her style is to incorporate green choices in every part the home from kitchen to bedroom. Being informed is so important and that is where this book shines.  It allows readers to learn about different choices and options they have when making changes.

Renee Loux demonstrates that being green at home is easy, affordable, and better in every sense of the word.  She discusses the daily choices we face that can keep the home, personal care, and beauty routines free of toxins. 

The book is full of "5 step" lists, products and recipes for green cleaning, helpful charts, safer choices for every room, and inspirational advice.

If you are looking for an excellent all around guide to living a greener more eco-friendly lifestyle then I'd highly recommend Easy Green Living. 

Buy Easy Green Living on Amazon.com

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Finding a Good Used Coffee Maker

Reviving a Classic Braun Coffee Maker

If you are a coffee drinker you know the importance of a good quality coffee maker. Most of the units you can buy new these days aren't well built and are almost exclusively made in China.

I've always been a fan of the classic Braun coffee makers and refusing to participate in the disposable appliance cycle it seems everyone in this country is on I keep my eyes open at garage sales and thrift shops for the the older Brauns.

Many of the early Braun coffee makers were made in Germany and sold with reusable filters. The coffee isn't barista grade when brewed but its a damn good cup of coffee as Agent Cooper in Twin Peaks often said.

At a thrift store in Massachusetts I like to frequent I ran into a German made Braun model 3097 complete with a Schott carafe and swiss gold filter. I picked up the coffee maker for $2.99 all it needed was a cleaning.

Restoring a coffee maker usually only requires running a couple cycles of white vinegar and water through the system and giving it a good external cleaning. Using a Skoy cloth, castile soap and and old toothbrush I had the unit in coffee brewing condition in about a day.

I love the industrial design of the old Braun products.

I have two Braun coffee makers the other one I picked up at a church sale for $2 is an Aeromaster – which is a classic icon of industrial design.

Many of these older Braun's were deemed “out of style” by homeowners and replaced with other more modern looking units.

They are now at the height of fashion and look great in a kitchen. If you're looking for a highly functional and well designed coffee maker keep your eyes peeled for a German made Braun at a tag sale, thrift shop or on eBay.

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Compostable Salad Packaging

Major UK retailer Sainbury's is releasing its SO organic wild rocket salad in new biodegradable packaging. The packaging is made using Amcor NaturePlus compostable film.

The new packaging is well designed with simple graphically pleasing graphic design highlighting the freshness of the product.  Very well done.

“Food packaging is very important to our customers and it influences their buying decisions, Amcor's NaturePlus compostable film helps us to meet our customers needs and our sustainability goals without compromising on shelf life and seal performance requirements,” Sainbury's packaging manager said.

Today, 90% of Sainbury's organic fresh produce is available in compostable, recycled or recyclable packaging.

Using compostable material for this type of packaging makes a lot of sense.  Packaging for fresh products like this in the US is designed to be disposable and always ends up in the landfill.  Since recycling rarely occurs with this type of packaging contamination isn't a concern.  Biodegradable packaging just makes sense in this application.

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Five Ways to Find Sustainable Products on eBay

Internet auction site eBay provides a treasure trove of sustainable products. Buying used products is in and of itself sustainable. By buying a used product you are giving the item a second life often diverting it from a landfill.

So in that context eBay provides a world wide market place for the exchange of goods. I actually see eBay as one gigantic garage or tag sale – which I love.

I've been an eBay member for more than ten years and have bought and sold everything from cameras to vacuum cleaners (see photo below).

My approach on eBay is to look for high quality well made items that are in functionally sound condition.  Often times these items are of superior quality and build to similar new products sold in stores.

My philosophy is simple, why would I want to buy a new product made in China when I can buy a used product of better quality from the USA, France or Italy for instance?

Not only am I buying something that is inherently sustainable its also of better quality and unique compared to many of the new products on the market.

Some examples of recent finds I've had on eBay are:

12” E.Dehillerin Copper pan $88 (France)

Nilfisk vacuum (Denmark/Sweden) $175

Dormeyer hand mixer (USA) $5.99

Polaris Stainless 8qt Pot (Norway) $18

Five tips for finding sustainable products on eBay

1) Buy used products they are cheaper than new and often are perfectly functional – buying used saves something from the junk yard and also allows you to buy higher quality items.

2) Research brands in the product category you are looking for. Often times a little research yields new and exiting options you may not have even known existed

3) Ask questions – be sure to communicate with seller and address any questions you have that aren't answered in the listing. You can learn a lot from questions – trust me.

4) Don't be afraid of electronic items. Often people selling electronics are selling them because they have "gone out of style" or don't fit with a current decor in their home (particularly with kitchen appliances) You can get some real deals here and are much more likely to get a product made in the USA or Europe with a better build quality.

5) Spend time learning how eBay works especially concerning bidding. Develop a strategy that works for you in terms of when to bid and how much to bid.

I will be posting more on eBay and treasures found there so stay tuned.

If you have any great finds from eBay let me know send an email with a photo and info and we'll run them on the site.

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More Green Gift Cards

Those of you who have followed Sustainable is Good know I've been interested in the growing trend in retail companies where “green” materials are being used in the production of gift cards.

I think the trend is interesting as it represents a rather odd place for companies to green their operations.

One of our readers recently let us know about two new greener gift card offerings he had noticed from LL Bean and Best Buy.

LL Bean is producing cards made from the corn-based Ingeo PLA material. The new cards make sense and seem to fit with LL Bean's overall image as an outdoor company.

The Best Buy cards are puzzling there are three of them in the series and not much is known about their makeup. A reader told us the new cards have a green magnetic strip instead of the traditional black and all throughout the strip are the words "recycled materials."  We weren't able to get any from Best Buy with more details.

Perhaps they are testing the cards and then may consider expanding their use? The company has so many different gift cards on the market – switching to a greener material may actually be beneficial.

The beat goes on with the green gift cards and its something I remain interested in.

Ecology versus Economy

BY DENNIS SALAZAR

At a recent gathering of eco minded business people, I listened in on a conversation between two green e-commerce business owners who were complaining about the weak economy and the impact it has had on their businesses. One stated he had noticed a substantial slowdown of orders and the other agreed, confirming he was experiencing the same. Both businessmen were certain the reduction of business to the “recession” and “the troubling economic times”, but I am not nearly so sure. 

A stampede is never a group decision

Panic and stampedes both begin when a persuasive individual determines a course for the entire group. Unlike one political adviser who recently claimed the recession is just in our heads, I realize this downturn in the economy is unfortunately very real. But somewhere between hiding your head in the sand and being completely oblivious to the problem, there is a good place to be, a place of cautious optimism combined with a firm grip on the reality of the times.
It is important for all of us in the sustainable products market, including the packaging segment, to keep in mind that what we are trying to accomplish is an important and unstoppable force that while not recession proof, can and will withstand economic uncertainty or a temporary downturn in the economy. If this were a fad or other fair weathered goal, sustainability might be vulnerable to derailment, but if we stay on course and remain positive in our dealings, we will prevail in time.

Five things to keep in mind

·    Having said all that, it is more important than ever before that our green products are price competitive. There may have been a time when green could demand a hefty premium, but I believe those days are gone. Today, we must integrate sound business practices in the manufacturing and in sourcing of the green products we sell.
·    Don’t take it personally. Price pressure is not an anti-green phenomenon. Every supplier is experiencing the same issues whether their products and services are eco focused or not. In fact, I believe that we may be less impacted than non-green businesses because committed believers will likely sacrifice in other areas rather than to revert back to unhealthy, unsustainable ways.
·    There is increased competition in the green market place. We must work harder and smarter in everything we do, particularly marketing, customer service, and customer retention.
·    Saving time, money and reducing cost is never out of fashion. Most sustainable ideas and products reduce cost and are proven more economical over time. It is more important than ever to “sell” the economic benefits to customers who may be wavering and considering apparently less expensive alternatives.
·    Hard times inspire and drive creativity and innovation. Ask anyone who flourished during previous economic tough times. This may wind up being the best thing that could happen because it forces us all to do what we do, only better.

Friends who know me well will confirm I love a good quote whether it is from Einstein or Seinfeld. Somewhere in between those two is the famous author Victor Hugo. As a business person committed to promoting sustainability, you can take some comfort in these difficult times, in one of his most famous quotes:

There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world; and that is an idea whose time has come.

Dennis Salazar is the president of Salazar Packaging, Inc., a certified MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) company specializing in packaging products, equipment and solutions. With over thirty years in the packaging industry, he is known for his tongue in cheek sense of humor as well as his sustainable packaging passion and expertise.   

To contact Dennis, please visit his web site: www.salazarpackaging.com

Innovative On the Go Sandwich Packaging

South African retailer Woolworths recently introduced a new form of packaging for its on the go sandwiches.

The previous version was made from plastic the new version is made from FSC certified cardboard with a corn-based plastic window. 

The packaging design is also innovative.  The cleverly designed box ‘unzips' into a handy, self-contained and disposal tray.

The retailer initially launched the new packs in the Western Cape and began rolling them out nationally from mid September 2008.

The new sandwich packs carry the stamp of approval of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an internationally recognized body backed by a large number of leading conservation groups including WWF-SA.

Julian Novak, Woolworth head of foods explains, “Plastic made from oil is a non-renewable resource. Our new packaging is based on renewable and sustainable resources. The cardboard is certified as coming from well-managed forests, which means we're supporting responsible forest management. We are particularly proud of this packaging because it is the first time that certified sustainable cardboard is being used in South African food packaging.”

Even better, Novak assures customers that the introduction of the new packaging has had no impact on Woolworths sandwich prices.

Live at the Martha Stewart Show

We're live at the Martha Stewart Show in NYC!  Martha is focused on blogging and is featuring some of the most well known bloggers. 

Sustainable is Good is part of an elite group of bloggers called Martha's Circle and I am here with other Martha's Circle bloggers.  Martha's Circle provides top quality lifestyle content and Sustainable is Good is very happy to be a part of Martha's network which draws top quality content as well as serves as a influential network for advertising.

Martha's focus on blogging is great for all of us like Sustainable is Good who have been blogging for a while.  Its fascinating sharing information with fellow bloggers at the Martha Stewart Show.  Her focus shows how important blogs have become.

Read more coverage from today's show from Living on 112 (The Martha Stewart Living Radio Show Blog)

More from the Martha Blog

Had the pleasure of meeting a number of bloggers including Timothy Dahl of Charles &Hudson, a really cool home improvement blog.  Check out his post on the show.

Check out Eddie Ross for behind the scenes pictures and insight at today's show.  Eddie was a guest speaking about his blog Eddie Ross.

Urlesque has a great post on the show today along with a number of photos.

Clips from today's show on YouTube.

Sustainable is Good to Blog from Martha Stewart Show

Sustainable is Good founder Rider Thompson will be in the audience and blogging live from the Martha Stewart show on Wednesday Sept, 17. 

Martha Stewart is dedicating an entire episode of the Martha Stewart Show to blogging and bloggers and I was invited to participate in the show.

Martha has always been interested in more sustainable options to everyday problems and tasks.  I am very happy to have the opportunity to participate in her show and also for the attention she is giving to blogs like Sustainable is Good by dedicating a show to blogging. 

Stay tuned for more updates.  Our relationship with Martha Stewart is a positive one and one that will only increase the focus and attention on more sustainable products and packaging options.