Sustainable is Good | Where design, lifestyle and packaging meet

Crate and Barrel Weber Smokey Joe Grill

I was in Crate and Barrel the other day and remembered how in each of the last two years the company had sold a "special edition" Weber Smokey Joe grill. 

Last year they sold a very charming green version and in 2007 a dove grey colored grill. 

My trusty Weber Smokey Joe is rusting at the point where the legs meet the base of the grill.  The screws and nuts they use are made of cheap metal unlike the rest of the grill and after about ten years they are ready to give way. 

So I was looking to replace my old model with one of the grills from Crate and Barrel. 

My plan was to get their green grill I saw last year and make a few minor modifications replacing the stock screws and nuts with stainless steel ones to prevent rust.  I thought with those modifications my new Weber would last many many years.

I was surprised to find Crate and Barrel has stopped carrying the Smokey Joe grills.  An associate at the Providence, RI store near my apartment told me the company is selling a bucket style small grill instead. 

I thought this was odd.  Everything I had heard was the special edition Smokey Joe grills were hot sellers and very popular with customers.  I wonder why they didn't stock one this year?  Does anyone know where to find one new or used?

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Naked Juice Converting All Bottles to 100% Post Consumer Recycled Plastic

One of my favorite juice companies Naked Juice announced it has become the first nationally-distributed brand in the U.S. to transition to a 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic or rPET bottle called the reNEWabottle.

While we haven't seen this type of national action yet in the U.S. - there were several juice companies in the UK who made similar changes over the last year. 

Naked Juice expects to have its entire product line transitioned to the 100 percent post-consumer recycled bottles in 2010, starting by converting all of its 32 ounce bottles in July 2009. Additionally, all of Naked Juice’s bottles will continue to be recyclable.

Consumers can begin looking for the Naked reNEWabottle this month for all flavors that can be found in 32 ounce bottles.

The new bottles are easy to identify – while the previous bottles were translucent, the Naked reNEWabottle is clear, showing off the vibrant juice inside, and will feature a label indicating that the bottle is 100 percent recycled.  Products available in the 32-ounce size are Green Machine, Blue Machine, Mighty Mango, Chai Spiced Cider and Pomegranate Blueberry, as well as Protein Zone, which will be introduced in August.

Simply put, reNEWabottle is a bottle made from other bottles! These rPET bottles are plastic coded #1, which are easily recycled.

“The transition to 100 percent post-consumer recycled bottles is a major milestone that we have worked hard to achieve. It’s important for the earth, and that’s important to our consumers,” said Mikel Durham, general manager of Naked Juice.

“If you were plastic, wouldn’t you like to come back as a Naked Juice bottle? With the new Naked reNEWabottle, consumers can reduce, reuse, recycle…reincarnate!”

Earthbound Farm to Switch All Packaging to 100% Post Consumer Recycled PET Plastic

Earthbound Farm recently announced they are switching all of their fresh salad packing to 100% post consumer recycled plastic.  This is a major step in the right direction and Earthbound Farm becomes the first in to make the switch according to the company. 

Fresh salad  "clamshell' tub containers are made from #1  polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic which is highly recyclable.  However many communities including the entire state of Rhode Island where I live will not accept this type of packaging for recycling even though its made from #1 PET plastic.  Creating tub containers requires a different manufacturing process at a different temperature than producing plastic bottles - so many communities will not recycle the containers.

Earthbound Farm is now using 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PCR PET) packaging produced by Packaging Plus.  

Virgin PET is made primarily from natural gas feedstock, whereas PCR PET is made from previously used plastic products such as soda or water bottles that would otherwise end up in landfills. Many food and nonfood packages are made from PET because it is light, shatter resistant, safe and recyclable. PCR PET materials use significantly less energy and water to produce than virgin plastic and result in lower greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste, according to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

Based on Earthbound Farm’s annual usage of rigid PET plastic in 2008, the company’s conversion to 100 percent PCR PET for clamshell packaging will conserve 424,000 million BTUs and 68,307 gallons of water, as well as eliminate 16,191 tons of carbon dioxide and divert 1.3 million pounds of solid waste from landfills.

“We started farming organically because we were concerned about the personal and environmental health effects of farming with chemicals”, said Myra Goodman, co-founder and executive vice president of Earthbound Farm.

“Organic farming has really positive effects, but we know we have to do more. More ecological packaging is an important next step; one we hope others will soon follow. “

To both celebrate its 25th anniversary and increase awareness of the ecological benefits of PCR packaging, Earthbound Farm is launching a redesigned label on its salad greens packages, calling out the post-consumer content of the packaging.

The company is also launching a web-based contest seeking quotes from children for the inside of its clamshell salad labels. Kids will be encouraged to submit quotes thanking those who purchase organic for helping protect the future. In return, the company will invest in the children’s future: the authors of those quotes chosen to be printed on Earthbound Farm salad labels will be awarded a $500 U.S. savings bond and a $500 donation will be made in their name to an environmental charity of their choice.

“Our decision to switch to post-consumer recycled packaging is one of many steps we have taken on our long journey of challenging the industrial status quo,” said Chad Smith, manager of Earthbound Farm’s sustainability initiatives.

“There are many opportunities to create a larger U.S. market for PCR materials, which is essential to reducing what we’re putting in landfills. We hope that other companies will see the value in adopting packaging solutions with PCR content and that consumers will make the decision to seek out PCR packaging when shopping. Working in tandem these steps will create the manufacturing demand needed for post consumer recycled materials,” he said.

Trader Joe's Excessive Packaging?

I came across an interesting post on Trader Joe's and their excessive packaging. 

We just had a Trader Joe's open recently here in the Providence area and I agree with the author of this post - TJs does tend to package just about everything including fresh produce. 

Its actually an interesting trend I've noticed start to expand to more conventional grocery stores in our area.  This whole idea of "conveniently" packaged produce items - like a three pack of bell peppers or something. 

I've always thought this type of packaging was unnecessary and wasteful but it does seem to be making a resurgence.

In terms of Trader Joe's every time I am in one of their stores I get the feeling they do things "their way" and that is the end of the story. 

I like the chain as it offers an interesting alternative to other grocery stores and Whole Foods but you can tell they operate in a very systematic fashion when it comes to their goods.  Perhaps that has to do with their Aldi roots?

Picture of single packaged apple via Portland Vegetarian Examiner

Whitelines Swedish Paper

Swedish paper company Whitelines recently released a new collection of eco-conscious notebooks and paper.

Their products are known for white lines as opposed to the dark lines found on many more conventional styles of notebooks and paper.  The concept is simple - the designer, Olof Hansson believes white "non-conflict" lines on paper are less distracting than dark - making the writing experience more focused and pleasurable.

Whitelines products are ideal for graphic or industrial designer as well as writers.
All notebooks produced by the company are labeled with their CO2 footprint.  All products are made in Sweden in a production process they company says causes "very low environmental stress in all parts of the production/logistics chain."  Their paper mill does not emit any carbon dioxide.

I've been using a Whitelines notebook for several weeks now and appreciate what an excellent writing pad this is.  The notebook is perfect for a designer to carry with them and sketch out ideas while on the bus or train. 

Whitelines products are available in the US online and at specialty writing/design supply stores.

Check Mr Bill's FLICKR stream for some writing samples on Whitelines paper

Ever-Green Toilet Paper Finally Eco Friendly Toilet Paper with no Plastic Packaging

Finally a company is producing toilet paper sold in a non-plastic bulk package!  Ever-Green toilet paper is made from 100% recycled fiber and comes in a recycled fiber paperboard box package. 

There are multiple brands of recycled toilet paper available to consumers but nearly all are packaged in packs of 6 or 12 rolls wrapped in plastic - something that has frustrated green consumers tremendously.

The cardboard core is also 100% recycled fiber. No plastic packaging is used in the product, making it the most eco-friendly toilet paper you can buy according to the company.

All packaging & core materials are completely recyclable. When you finish a roll, simply put the core back through the hole into the box packaging; when all rolls are used the entire box becomes recyclable.

Ever-Green 100% recycled toilet paper is soft unlike many other green brands and is whitened without the use of Chlorine. The product is made in the U.S.

Ever-Green is available online from Lets Go Green Biz.

Cap-it Packaging used by Pepsi Recognized for Sustainablity

 A jury of industry experts at the 66th annual PPC National Paperboard Packaging Competition chose Cap-it, the eco-friendly paperboard multipack from Graphic Packaging International, Inc., as the paperboard package with the most positive impact on product differentiation, merchandising, and sustainability among the 87 competitive entries.

Cap-it was first used last year as packaging for a six pack of 24oz Pepsi bottles.

“We appreciate the industry’s recognition of the Cap-it concept, which we believe can reposition paperboard as a competitive alternative to plastic rings and shrink film,” said John Best, vice president, Product Development, Graphic Packaging International, Inc.

“Cap-it paperboard multipacks demonstrate that designing for sustainability all along the supply chain can deliver more value compared to conventional plastic choices.”

The Cap-It design was introduced in 2008 as a six-pack carrier for 24oz. Pepsi beverage products bottled by Alabama-based Buffalo Rock.

The Cap-it multipack provides structural integrity, billboard and portability while out-performing plastic solutions like rings and shrink film in sustainability and supply chain economics including distribution and warehousing.

The minimal Cap-it design uses less fiber – a renewable and recyclable natural material compared to petroleum-based plastic -- and allows consumers to view the bottled beverages for quality assurance. The billboard is adequately sized for branding and promotional graphics, backside printing, product traceability codes and onserts. The short and long sides of the billboard also adapt more easily to retail shelf space limitations and provide visibly better differentiation than shrink film when multiple brands are displayed side-by-side in small spaces.

Cap-it system economics surpass that of plastic rings or shrink film. The multipack requires only die-cutting and can be shipped flat to improve truck load pack-out. Energy consumption for manufacturing and delivering Cap-it multipacks is measurably lower than the energy used for Hicone plastic rings.

Graphic Packaging’s Cap-it multipacks are available for bottles in a range of sizes from 12oz to 32oz. It will be interesting to see which companies start using Cap-it packaging for their 12oz bottle - which are the most popular size for softdrinks among U.S. consumers.