Heirloom Peppercorns and Himalasalt Zen Cube Highlight New Products from Sustainable Sourcing

One of my favorite companies, Sustainable Sourcing, the producers of Himalasalt have some new products worth checking out.  

Founder Melissa Kushi has gone to great pains to ensure her products are both ethically sourced and environmentally sound.  She was telling me how she calculated the environmental impact of her company in terms of carbon footprint and devised a plan to offset significantly more.

Kushi has added a whole line of heirloom peppercorns to her product lineup as well as solid 1lb blocks of pink Himalayan sea salt. 

New products include:

- Organic Heirloom Long Pepper is shade grown in Bali and hand-harvested in the monsoon forest.  With delicious notes of cardamom, nutmeg, and a hint of chocolate aroma, this highly prized heirloom is exquisite ground heavily in melted garlic butter as a dip for steamed artichokes, works beautifully to bring out flavors in fish, game, and vegetable grills, and is heavenly in the most delicate sauces, soups, stews, and for flavoring clear broth

- Organic Heirloom Cubeb Peppercorns are from the 1500s spice trade. Cubeb has the highest essential oil content of any pepper, with highly aromatic, flavorful notes of pine, cinnamon, and fine pepper.  Delicious in tea as an alternative to sweet chai, superb in gravies, sauces, in rice pilafs and biryanis, curries, soups, and grilling fish and vegetables.

- Himalasalt Zen Cube - Artisan Carved from the purest selected pink Himalayan sea salt crystals, the HimalaSalt Zen Cube brings elegance, tranquility, and a bit of zen fun to your meals, in addition to being the perfect finishing salt for edamame, salads, steamed greens, pastas, bread dipped in oils, and more! Kushi offers the blocks individually or with a stainless steel grater.  Each cube is hand-carved and varies in size, yet each one weighs approximately 1lb.

Kushi uses sustainable packaging in all of her products.  The clear plastic like film used in much of her packaging is actually a biodegradable film made from corn called Earthfirst PLA.

Sustainable Sourcing products are available directly from the company at their website as well as at a number of retailers across the country.

Hammarby: Swedish Eco-Suburb of the Future

BY ALEXANDER HOGAN

Good design can change the world. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the community of Hammarby, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden. Once an industrial wasteland claimed by gangs as their territory, good design and careful planning have transformed this urban blight into an up and coming global model for eco-minded change. 

Change. No other word or motto seems more vital and timely today. And what’s so appealing and interesting about the Hammarby model is the complete transformation that it embodies. Every building has been designed to meet the goals of reducing waste, specifically CO2 emissions. Roofs conceal solar panels, hand rails also hold solar strips to fuel the energy needs of this community. 

The design community, guided by the demands and desires of the citizenry and planners has created a fully integrated eco-city. A trip to the city website offers you a chance to investigate more of the philosophy and goals behind this rising suburban community. Don’t worry if your Swedish is rusty, an English language site is available and fully functional. The site notes

“The core of the environmental and infrastructural planning can be summarized in an eco-cycle model. The model for the handling of energy, waste and water is known as the Hammarby Model. It has been developed by Fortum, Stockholm Water Company and the Stockholm Waste Management Administration.”

In other words the community of Hammarby Sjostad hopes to emit half the CO2 of other new housing areas. They propose to do this by reforming water and sewage technology, recycling, reforming design to keep healthy, environmentally sound materials in mind, and developing buildings which use renewable fuels.  Consumers are drawn to the area because of an active choice to live in an area in which the very buildings themselves embody their values. 

So are the Swedish some group of super eco-logical thinkers? No, they simply made the choice to organize and plan out collectively their goals. We have the same opportunity now in the United States. If we organize as consumers and as communities and lay out a set of objectives we can accomplish them through design and responsible consumerism in the same way that the citizens and planners of Hammarby accomplished their dream city. Collective action and dialogue is just as important for social change in this century as it has been in every century past. Sure, let Hammarby be a model, but let our own intellects guide our way. 

Having traveled extensively on three continents, Alexander Hogan has seen the impact of environmental degradation and unreflective consumerism in many different societies. He is a professor of political science and author of the blog The Happy Gentleman where he documents his life as a foodie, amateur photographer and advocate of responsible consumerism. Contact him at letsemailalexander@gmail.com

Clorox Partners with Preserve to Recycle Brita Filters

Oakland-based Clorox and Massachusetts-based Preserve announced an innovative recycling partnership to recycle used Brita filters.

The new program is a major environmental step in the right direction from Clorox - way to go! 

Beginning in early January 2009, consumers can recycle Brita water pitcher filters through a program with Preserve. 

Preserve offers an environmentally friendly recycling infrastructure for No. 5 polypropylene plastic, a primary material in Brita pitcher filters, through its Gimme 5 recycling and reuse program.

Many communities across the country do not accept #5 plastic for recycling which has made environmentally responsible disposal difficult for many consumers. 

Through the new program, Preserve will collect the filters to use in its line of eco-friendly, 100 percent recyclable personal care, tableware and kitchen products.

Preserve products made in part from Brita filters will be available at leading retailers, allowing consumers to purchase new sustainable products they helped create.

“By working with Preserve, we are able to strengthen our sustainability commitment and identify a Brita filter recycling solution that is a win for consumers, the environment and our company,” said Don Knauss, chairman and CEO of The Clorox Company, makers of Brita products.

"This initiative is one of many ways The Clorox Company is actively making its consumer product offerings more sustainable and creating positive impacts in the
area of waste reduction."

Preserve will recycle 100 percent of each Brita plastic pitcher filter casing collected. The No. 5 polypropylene plastic from the casing will be used by Preserve in their line of products.

The filter ingredients – activated carbon for creating great-tasting water and additional ion-exchange resin that reduces lead, mercury, copper, cadmium and zinc that might be found in tap water – will be regenerated for alternative use or converted into energy.

“The Brita filter recycling program gives Brita pitcher filters new life as Preserve products,” stated John Lively, director of environment and material science for Preserve.

“We calculated that the benefits of keeping Brita filters out of landfills outweigh the impact of shipping them for recycling through this program.”

Beginning in January consumers can drop off their used, dry Brita pitcher filters at participating Whole Foods Market stores or mail them directly to Preserve (mailing boxes will also be recycled).  Full details and instructions on both options, including a complete list of Gimme 5 stores, will be available at www.brita.com in early January 2009.

Me and Goji Custom Cereal

Me & Goji is an interesting new company based in New Hampshire that makes custom made cereal for its customers.  Me & Goji focuses on using high quality organic/natural ingredients, an innovative web-based cereal creation system, simple effective design and environmentally friendly packaging to make the whole experience of creating custom cereal as easy as possible for its customers.

Adam Sirois, Me & Goji's founder told me about the unique name of his company.  "Goji comes from goji berries which are pound for pound probably the healthiest food on earth," said Sirois.  "They are found in the high altitude of the Himalayas in Tibet.  The "me" in the brackets allow for interpolation which invokes the theme of customization: anything or anyone can be inserted."

Creating a custom made cereal is simple.  Me & Goji offers five different cereal bases to begin with and more than thirty individual ingredients to add in order to create a your own unique blend.  Pricing is individual based on what you add to your custom blend. 

I put together a blend which I aptly named "Rider's Cereal Blend" which consisted of Artisanal Cereal blend base (multigrain oat bran, rye, spelt, barley, amarath and wheat germ) cacao nibs, granola, goji berries and pumpkin seeds.  The blend was delicious I loved being able to put exactly what I wanted in my cereal - what a cool concept.

The cereal comes in a canister with a custom nutritional label to match your own cereal blend.  Sirois designed the look and feel of the canister which is a very functional container for the cereal. 

The cereal is shipped in a cardboard box made from 100% post consumer recycled material.  The shipping boxes Sirois uses are made by Chicago-based Globe Guard and are custom sized to fit his cereal canister which allows Sirois to further reduce waste and keep his environmental impact as low as possible.

"We are extremely happy with the packaging," Sirois said.  "Functionally it has suited all our needs, especially in terms of getting our product safely in good shape to the consumer, which should not be overlooked since our product is shipped directly."

If adding high quality organic items like Maine Blueberries, cacao Nibs, Goji Berries, Hunza Raisins, Goldenberries and many others sounds good then I'd suggest checking out Me & Goji.

How to Find an Energy Efficient Laptop Computer

Finding an energy efficient laptop computer has become much easier in the last year.  There is now a good range of laptop/notebook computers which meet the U.S. Govt's Energy Star requirements for efficiency.  These Energy Star laptops are easily identifiable thanks to the blue Energy Star logo which will appear on qualifying products and their packaging.

What to look for in an Energy Efficient laptop computer

First its important to note that choosing a laptop computer over a desktop model you are making a more efficient choice.  Within the wide range of laptop computers available you can make an even more efficient choice by looking for one which is Energy Star compliant.  In addition look for laptops which are also RoHS compliant.  RoHS is a manufacturing standard used in the EU to limit the use of hazardous materials in consumer products.  RoHS is a great standard and is much more strict than current US standards.  Fortunately more and more computer manufacturers are realizing it makes sense to sell products which are RoHS compliant in the US since they already make them for sale in the EU.

Amazon.com has made it extremely easy to find Energy Star laptops by creating a special section on there website where they list all current laptops in their inventory which meet the criteria.

Currently there are 140 Energy Star laptop/notebook computers on Amazon nearly all of them are offered with free shipping.

Buying an Energy Star laptop computer isn't necessarily more expensive than a non Energy Star model.  When looking at the specifications for a laptop you are considering check to see if the computer meets Energy Star criteria.  Since even the most basic laptop computers are perfectly capable of handling the vast majority of computer users needs these days choosing the ideal laptop is really a matter of personal preference.  There are a number of choices both PC and Apple Macs which are reasonably priced and packed with features and efficiency. 

Some of the energy efficient laptop computers I like are:

13" Apple Macbook sleek design ultra portable and reliable.  Excellent reviews, Energy Star.

13" Sony VAIO   XBrite-ECO LED display, RoHS compliant, Silver EPEAT, Energy Star

15.4" Sony VAIO New super affordable XBrite-ECO display, RoHS compliant, Energy Star

13" Apple MacBook Air super slim, LED display, ECO packaging, Energy Star

There four computers are models I like because they combine functionality, efficiency and good design in their build.  There are a number of other Energy Star models available from these companies as well as HP, Dell, and Toshiba.  Check Amazon's selection for a wide range of current offerings.

The Cardboard Christmas Tree: A Greener Option for Holiday Decorating

BY BERYL SHERESHEWSKY

Dan Green and Nick Ng are Chicago designers and co-founders of Cloud Gate Design.  The pair have created the Cardboard Christmas Tree, a new eco-friendly product designed to offer consumers a greener option for the holidays.

“We have both worked for product-centered companies, and we decided we didn’t want to just put another product out there,” explained Green.

The Cardboard Christmas Tree is simple in theory but really means a lot more than just a way to save a little space and cash during the holidays.

“We wanted to start a company that had ethics; we wanted consciousness to meet with design in a way that wasn’t detrimental to the environment,” said Ng.

“We wanted to create something where we could go home and say, ‘hey, it serves a need, it has a purpose and can be 100% recycled and reused.”

With part of the profits from the tree donated to the Arbor Day Foundation’s Trees for America program, every dollar donated becomes a newly planted tree in a damaged forest area.

So yes, the tree is cute, perfect for small homes, perfect for students in dorms, perfect for kids who want a tree in their room…..but there is something more, something that I think plays into the spirit of the holidays.

While at times they may be about watching Christmas specials on TV , the holidays are also about togetherness. “Families can get together and paint it, add stickers…it’s really a creative outlet,” explains Dan.

The tree cardboard Christmas tree and its packaging are well designed.  It arrives in a flat box and all the pieces are pre-cut - the tree is easy to assemble.  All the extra cardboard has been cut into stars, balls and candy cane shapes which easily pop out of the excess cardboard and can be attached to the tree. 

The entire tree is recyclable its made from 100% cardboard.  Of course the tree can be folded up and stored back in the box for use next year as well.

If you are looking for an alternative to the traditional Christmas tree which still allows for decorating and a wonderful holiday item - the cardboard Christmas tree is worth checking out.

Having traveled around the world, Beryl Shereshewsky, a recent University of Colorado, Boulder graduate, realized that in life, she wanted to accomplish three things. One, travel more, two, write about what she saw and three, save the world. With the recent advances in the green movement, she realized that she could be a superhero writer and write about saving the world. Combing her powers, she now writes for various eco and travel sites across the web, changing the world one article at a time. Feel like chatting?  E-mail her b.shereshewsky@yahoo.com.

Hearst Tower

On Friday I had the opportunity to tour Hearst Tower with Hearst Senior V.P. for Integrated Media, Jeff Hamill.

Hearst Tower is Norman Foster's magnificent creation on 57th & 8th Avenue in NYC and is the new home to the Hearst Corporation. 

Foster preserved six stories of Joseph Urban's original Hearst Building to serve as a base for his new tower design.  Using the original building's outer structure creates a wonderful open atrium at the base of the new Hearst Tower. 

Hearst Tower is the first office building in NYC to receive a Gold LEED rating from the US Green Building Council.

The atrium includes the Icefall sculpture, a two-story structure of 595 separate hand cast glass blocks with constantly varying computer controlled water flowing.   The Icefall cascading waterfall is fueled by rainwater collected on the roof of the building.  The sculpture provides a wonderful welcome to visitors as well as serving to humidify the atrium. 

Icefall serves as a base for Richard Long's enormous Riverlines fresco which is the primary focal point in the atrium. 

Hearst Tower is a marvel of design and efficiency.  It is supported by a steel diagrid and twelve angled mega columns.  From the exterior the building looks like a series of four story triangular frames. 

The building layout is just amazing.  The 44th floor offers spectacular views of the city and offers conference and meeting facilities for staff.  Hallways on the 43 and 44th floors are lined with spectacular art from the Hearst collection including several pieces from Chinese installation and pyrotechnic artist Cai Guo-Qiang. 

I had the opportunity to see the Good Housekeeping test labs on the 29th floor of Hearst Tower.  Here Good Housekeeping Magazine tests and evaluates a wide range of products and awards the Good Housekeeping Seal.  The Good Housekeeping lab was designed by the New York firm C& R Partners in conjunction with Foster & Partners.

I was impressed by the Hearst Tower and the company's setup in their new home.  Its a dramatic improvement for the company and its employees.

photos: Foster + Partners

Aveda 1978 Clove Shampoo Makes a Comeback in Special Packaging

Aveda recently re-launched the first product it ever made, Clove Shampoo in new packaging that is made from nearly 100% recycled plastic.

Known for their focus on high quality natural personal care products, Aveda (part of Estee Lauder) has been quietly establishing itself as a leader in more environmentally friendly packaging.

Clove Shampoo is simple, light and clean a classic Aveda product.  What better way to celebrate their 30th year in business by bringing back Clove Shampoo in exciting new packaging.

The shampoo bottle features a cap made from 100% post consumer recycled #5 plastic collected through a special program the company organized. 

Using its network of salons & retail stores along with partnerships with schools across the country Aveda is collecting #5 caps from a wide range of products. 

To date the company estimates they have collected 50,000 lbs of caps.  The collected caps are then ground up, washed and made into plastic pellets which are then turned into caps for new Aveda products.

Interestingly the graphic design on the bottle had to be adapted to accommodate the variations in the different shades of the caps - which due to their 100% recycled content would vary slightly in color.

Aveda's 1978 Clove Shampoo is the company's first product to debut with a cap made from 100% post-consumer recycled #5 polypropylene. 

The Clove Shampoo's bottle is made from 96% post-consumer recycled #2 HDPE plastic, from recycled milk bottles.  The combination of the bottle and cap make this product one of Aveda's most environmentally responsible. 

The company plans on continuing to grow their Caps Recycling program and use plastic from the program on more of its products.

I Am Not a Paper Cup, but Still Happy to Serve You

BY BERYL SHERESHEWSKY

As JK Rowling taught us, things are not always what they appear to be. A normal boy might be a wizard, a piece of candy might be able to come to life or, in the muggle world, an everyday-looking object could be something sustainable and in its own right, magical.

In a world of get-it-now, use-it-today, trash-it-later, disposable, clutter-causing, on-the-go objects, it’s no surprise we have scientists figuring out ways to make use of ever-rising landfills. Our single-use social policies are on the way out as sustainability and long-term-use fill the crossword of our everyday lives.

The iconic “I am Not a Plastic Bag” designed by Anya Hindmarch has a new friend to boot.

The latest creation from Decor Craft Inc. (DCI), “I am Not a Paper Cup” gives coffee drinkers everywhere the means to cash-in on the green craze without forsaking their iconic to-go mugs.

Made of 3.5 x 6-inch double-walled porcelain, the heat inside the mug stays there. Complete with a silicon lid. 

I put the mug to the test on the pot-holed embarrassment that I call my street. Bumping along, I was happy to find that I didn’t need to clean up anything. The lid stayed put and my drink was there to greet me, steaming and full, when I pulled into my parking spot.

As for the New Yorker that silently resides in all of us, Graham Hill’s, “We are Happy to Serve You” mug underwent some recent surgery. Now available in ceramic, the mug has gone from an on-the-street treat to an at-home companion.

In a land of constant urgency, on-the-go items take the cake. But by adding a dash of sustainability and taking out a pinch of disposable, we might all find a way to slow down, smell the fair trade roses and actually enjoy the very brew that we ran to store to get.

Having traveled around the world, Beryl Shereshewsky, a recent University of Colorado, Boulder graduate, realized that in life, she wanted to accomplish three things. One, travel more, two, write about what she saw and three, save the world. With the recent advances in the green movement, she realized that she could be a superhero writer and write about saving the world. Combing her powers, she now writes for various eco and travel sites across the web, changing the world one article at a time. Feel like chatting?  E-mail her b.shereshewsky@yahoo.com.

SpoonLidz Debuts as Sustainable Single Serve Spoon Built into Packaging Lid

Peggy Cross of Sterling Cross Creative has designed SpoonLidz, a new type of sustainable lid for a variety of food products. 

The cardboard-based lid coverts into a spoon providing the customer a much more sustainable single serving spoon for yogurt, oatmeal, baby food, and many other serve products.

SpoonLidz is making its first major debut today at Pack Expo International in Chicago. 

SpoonLidz satisfies the growing consumer demand for greater levels of eco-friendly, economical, grab-and-go convenience. SpoonLidz is a sustainable over-lid which, in one fold, becomes a sanitary and fun spoon.

There is potentially little or no cost added for the consumer.

The cost is a fraction of other on-pack spoons, and has much less impact on the environment because it’s made from a renewable cardstock with SpectraKote, a new sustainable, slick, moisture-barrier coating.

“We've had an incredible response from both consumers and the trade,” said Peggy Cross, long-time National Brand Marketing/Packaging Director and Principal of Sterling Cross Creative, and now Founder of SpoonLidz.

“In our market research with yogurt, we heard excitement and relief from consumers; now they have a solution to their ongoing problem of having to constantly worry about buying, packing, losing, washing, throwing out or forgetting to pack spoons, for products which they use to-go. Many we surveyed said they would buy more yogurt if it came with the added convenience of a SpoonLidz."

The company says the best part about SpoonLidz is not having to use a plastic spoon any more - which would have a significant positive environmental impact.