Sustainable is Good | Where design, lifestyle and packaging meet

Nikon Ecobins Binoculars Review

Nikon's new ecobins binoculars feature eco-friendly glass which is lead and arsenic free, non-chloride rubber eye cups, a natural fiber carrying case and strap, no printed materials inside the box and tree-free packaging.  Naturally with all these green friendly features these binoculars were something I was interested in checking out.

Available in 10x25 magnification the ecobins are compact, rugged, waterproof and fogproof.  Nikon's premium optics include aspherical eyepiece lenses that provide distortion-free viewing, internal blackening to minimize light loss inside binocular tubes and multi-coated lenses that offer maximum brightness, contrast and true color.

The included carrying case and strap are constructed from environmentally-minded Lenzing Tencel fiber that is fully biodegradable. Derived from the wood pulp of sustainable eucalyptus forests, Tencel fiber utilizes a revolutionary manufacturing process with minimal waste.

The eco-friendly features of this product carry all the way through to the manner it is packaged.  Ecobins packaging is constructed from eighty-five percent post-consumer waste and is printed on recyclable FiberStone paper. This recyclable paper is completely tree-free and made from limestone collected as waste material from existing quarries for the building and construction industry.  Production of this product uses no water or bleaching chemicals and releases zero pollution into the air according to the company.

Additionally, to minimize resources used to produce ecobins the instruction manual, product registration card and information regarding Nikon’s 25-year warranty are available online at and were not included in the packaging as printed inserts. 

I've taken a pair of the new Ecobins along on birding and nature trips earlier this month here in Rhode Island.  One of the best spots for winter birds is Sachuest Point NWR just outside Newport, RI.  The area is known for its winter sea birds and resident raptors. 

Like other 10x25 binoculars the Ecobins aren't ideally suited for scanning and spotting things like birds due to their limited field of view.  However their 10x magnification and excellent quality optics help make up for that especially when you've located a target - for instance a perched raptor. 

The strength of the Ecobins comes in their portability and light weight - they are an excellent general purpose binocular that allow you good looks at things once spotted.  Their size and weight are significant pluses especially when trying to travel light or for casual use when a more substantial binocular may be overkill. 

Optically the Ecobins are strong.  As expected they provide the sharp crisp image Nikon is known for.  They perform best during the day when the light is strong.  At dusk or under difficult light conditions their performance isn't optimal - that is due to their smaller field of view which doesn't let as much light in. 

I would say the Ecobins would be a great choice for backpackers and hikers who want to view wildlife and look from scenic vistas along the trail.  They would also be a great choice for a general purpose all around binocular for all kinds of recreational activities.

According to a Nikon spokeswoman, the largest retailer for Ecobins is REI but they can also be found online with several different retailers.  The MSRP is $169.99

2009 Sustainable is Good Green Products Holiday Gift Guide

Welcome to the 2009 Sustainable is Good Holiday Gift Guide.  Earlier this year I was asked by the folks at Martha Stewart to develop a list of more sustainable green gift ideas for the holiday season.  My list includes items that are interesting, practical and well made.  I believe holiday gifts and the products we buy shouldn't be disposable products they should bring many years of use and enjoyment.  

Browse my gift selections and I encourage you to look for similar products from local and regional producers across the country.  Have a happy and safe holiday season!  Check out the full Guide on Martha Stewart.

Alchemy Goods Recycled Innertube Belt

This stylish belt is the perfect recycled accessory for the hip guy or gal in your life.  Made in Seattle from old inner tubes. $38 by Alchemy Goods

Niagara Conservation Showerhead 1.2 GPM

The Niagara Conservation showerhead saves water, using only 1.2 gallons per minute, and is designed to work with any décor. $17. Watercheck.biz

Misono UN10 Gyutou Knife

The 7" Misono UX10 Gyutou (Chef) knife is the perfect gift for the cook on your list.  This stellar tool will easily last a lifetime or two, making it a highly sustainable choice.  $143.  Korin.com

Full Circle Herb Hot Cats Catnip Sausage Toy

Hot Cats denim 6" catnip sausages will drive your kitty wild.  Family-made in Oregon, these cat toys are ready for fun. $5.50.  Full Circle Herb

Taza Guajillo Chili Chocolate Mexicano

Taza Guajillo Chili Chocolate Mexicano, produced in Massachusetts, is a luxurious treat.  Its fiery flavor and the coarse stone grind make this chocolate perfect for a winter night. $4.50.  Taza Chocolate or Whole Foods Market.

Patagonia Wanaka Down Jacket

The new for 2009 Wanaka Jacket combines style, functionality and sustainability quite well.  The shell & lining are made from recycled polyester.  The jacket borrows style elements from vintage Swiss army jackets.  Its down insulation makes it perfect choice for the all-in-one winter jacket.  $350.  Patagonia.

Pangea Organics Canadian Pine with White Sage Bar Soap

Nothing says the holidays like the smell of pine.  Sustainable packaging and all natural ingredients make this Canadian Pine & White Sage soap an ideal stocking stuffer.  $8. Pangea Organics.

Technivorm Moccamaster KB741 Coffee Maker

The Moccamaster KB-741 is the perfect gift for the coffee lover, and breaks the cycle of flimsy appliances that need to be replaced every couple years.  This coffee maker features solid construction and copper heating elements for the perfect temperature.   Made in Holland.  Available in four colors.  $245.  Boyd's Coffee (their USA distributor). 

Individual Icons Ruler Bracelet

Fashioned from rulers manufactured in New York and recrafted into jewelry in Rhode Island, this charming bracelet suits all sorts.  $49.  Individual Icons.

Australian Scent Travel Pack

This airline-approved travel pack from Australian Scent includes some of our favorite goods.  These all natural skin care products are amazing -- some of the best we've tried.  $39.  Australian Scent.

Maggie's Organics Stuffed Penguin

This adorable stuffed Penguin is made from excess fabric and stuffed with reclaimed polyester mill scrap by Maggie's Organics.   Made in North Carolina.  $20.  Maggie's Organics.

Toasty Boys Organic Boxers

Toasty Boys is one of the first thermal Organic Boxer Briefs made for comfort, warmth and casual wear. This new green line of underwear is made from 100% naturally grown cotton (i.e. No Pesticides) and utilizes a unique thermal weave fabric that is knit slightly looser than grandpa’s old time thermal “Long Johns”.

Designed by fashion designer Christopher Anthony, Toasty Boys are very comfortable and fit true to size.

I tested out pair of Toasty Boys boxers and they are an ideal solution to providing comfort and warmth during the winter.

Here in New England I take the bus as often as I can and having clothing that helps offset the wind and cold is a major plus especially when the clothing is responsibly made.

Anthony is based in Chicago and the idea for thermal underwear came from the cold winters the Windy City is so well known for. As a child he could cut the legs off of long johns and make underwear out of them. Toasty Boys borrows many elements of the classic long johns but updates them, making them primarily more comfortable.

Toasty Boys are a great solution for those looking for warm green boxers this winter. Anthony plans to launch Bamboo Boys in the Spring and a new women's line.

Radius Source Toothbrush New Models made from Dollar Bills and Flax

UPDATE:  Dec 14 8pm est

Radius has extended their sale through Dec 21st see below

Radius has introduced several new models to its popular Source toothbrush line.  The new Source toothbrushes feature handles made from flax and old money.  The two new models add to the current Source toothbrush made from corn.

The Radius Source toothbrush has quickly become a top seller for the Pennsylvania-based company which first came on the map with its original Radius toothbrush made from wood cellulose.

I had the chance to see the new Source toothbrushes at Expo East back in October.  Radius’ Carol Brian was excited by the new additions to the product line as she told me about the new handles. 

I particularly like the new Source with the dark green handle made from old US currency.  There is something sort of neat about having a toothbrush handle made from money.

The flax handle is very nice as well dark elegant in appearance. 

Both of the new Source toothbrushes are available at retailers across the country as well as direct from Radius.  The new models will ship with the current corn-based Source and stores will have a variety.

I’ve used a Source toothbrush myself for over a year now and absolutely love it.  The design of the handle fits perfectly into my hand and it’s a unique item.

The Source also features new packaging made using SmartCycle recycled plastic.  Overall the new packaging significantly reduces the amount of plastic their packaging uses.

Radius is currently having a holiday sale where customers can 25% off all products plus free shipping on orders over $50.  The sale runs through December 14th.  Visit their website to take advantage of this great offer.

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.

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.