Sustainable is Good | Where design, lifestyle and packaging meet

Ikea Sultan Heidal Mattress

Ahh a new year!  Hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday season.  

One of the things I did over the holiday break was get a new bed.  Beds are something I get a lot of questions about from readers - however they are often difficult to review or test - for obvious reasons.  So I thought I'd share my own personal story of searching for a greener bed.

Fortunately for people looking for greener more eco-friendly mattresses and bed frames there are a number of options out there.  The major downsides are the cost of greener beds and the lack of availability of stock in many locations in the US to actually go look at options and try them out. 

Most major furniture retailers do not carry truly eco-friendly beds and unfortunately these types of retailers are who dominate the market here in the US.

After lots of research and trying to keep the costs within reason I focused my search on two beds from IKEA.  The Sultan Heidal and the Sultan Erfjord mattresses.  The Sultan Heidal is a spring based mattress with eco-cotton, wool, PLA fibers and latex and the Sultan Erjford is a latex mattress covered in eco-cotton, wool and PLA.

Living in Providence, RI the closest IKEA is outside of Boston in Stoughton.   I made several trips to try the mattresses in the store and ended up preferring the Sultan Heidal - which sells for $799 in queen size.  I liked the support and firmness of the bed and its overall construction seemed to be a better long term choice than the latex mattress.

The problem with obtaining either of these two mattresses from IKEA is they are in very short supply, stock is low and demand is high.  So I ended up waiting more than a year to finally get the Sultan Heidal in queen size. 

There are rumors around that IKEA plans to introduce a new line of greener beds later this summer - and will be phasing out these two beds in the process.  So after hearing that information in the fall I had all but given up hope of getting the Sultan Heidal mattress - until the week of Christmas I was checking the stock levels online at IKEA Boston and New Haven and noticed they had mattresses in stock. 

I went up and purchased the Sultan Heidal with the Heimdal steel bed frame and the Sultan Luroy slightly curved slatted bed base.  I made some modifications to the bed frame with my trusty hack saw and its all set.  I love the new bed.  The whole thing cost just under $1200 delivered - which is a typical price for a mid range conventional bed and box spring from a traditional retailer.

The Sultan Heidal is a greener bed - its not perfectly green but its definitely a greener option than most beds out there.  In terms of price the Sultan Heidal is the cheapest greener full normal sized thickness queen mattress I found anywhere.  

After about ten days of sleeping on my new bed setup - I am very pleased.  The mattress is firm but not too firm the quality is very high and the slatted frame works well - its curved slats add just the right amount of give. 

I know there is a tremendous lack of information out there for people looking for greener beds on a budget - trust me I spent many hours looking for options on the Internet. 

I would suggest checking out these two beds if IKEA is an option for you.  Alternatively there are retailers like Organic Grace - who I really like that carry several very green beds for those on a budget.  The costs are higher than IKEA when you factor in shipping and a frame but they are still below $2000.    The downside with retailers like this is - you cannot try the bed and returns are very difficult if even an option at all. 

As an aside if your looking for a green pillow - I'd highly recommend the shredded natural latex pillow from Organic Grace the filling is from scrap latex and the case is made from organic cotton - its by far the best pillow I've ever used.

Patagonia Wanaka Down Jacket

 

Looking for a stylish environmentally friendly jacket for that guy on your holiday list?  I'd suggest checking out the new Patagonia Wanaka Down Jacket.

This new design from Patagonia combines elements of vintage style with 600-fill power goose down insulation.   The result is a jacket that will keep you warm in most outdoor applications and is also stylish enough to wear into urban environments.

The Wanaka has an insulated zip-off hood which is a great feature.  When the hood is off it sports a high collar to block wind which is really nice.  The jacket has numerous pockets and adjustments.

Available in black or Espresso brown, the Wanaka is worth checking out.  In terms of sizing - the medium seems a bit on the large size.  I'd be sure to give it a try and if your on the fence between sizes - the fit seems generous I'd consider the smaller size.

Available from Patagonia.com or numerous retailers across the country.

Ludacer to Perform Songs About Packaging atop Fresh Kills in NYC

Packaging Designer Randy Ludacer of Beach Packaging Design will be performing (solo) atop a capped garbage mound at Fresh Kills on Saturday, September 26, at noon.

With the support of The New York City Parks Department and a grant from COAHSI (The Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island), Ludacer, a local musician & package designer will be singing some “Songs About Packaging” on top of what was formerly the world’s largest landfill. Serenading, in effect, the decades of discarded packaging buried beneath.

Eventually, Fresh Kills Park will be New York City’s largest new parks expansion since the 1890s, but since it is not yet open to the public, this performance can only be attended by those who sign up for it via the NYC Parks Department website or on Ludacer's site.

Transportation to the location will be provided by the same bus(es) that are used for the regular tours of the Fresh Kills site.

There is also a recorded 7-song “Songs about Packaging” CD in the works—which will be distributed for free to all those who attend this event. The CD packaging will be handmade from used packaging. (From the artist’s own personal recycling bin: frozen food carton, pasta & cereal boxes, etc.)

Check out Ludacer’s blog, box vox for more about packaging & culture. 

e.a.t Frozen Chowders from Key West Gourmet

I recently learned about a delicious line of frozen chowders that really embodies sustainability in every aspect from ingredients to packaging.  The e.a.t line of soups and chowders from Key West Gourmet Foods consists of five "environmental and tasty" meal solutions. 

The products are microwavable and packaged in entirely sustainable packaging - which the company says is a first in North America for a frozen entree.  The packaging is 100% compostable and recyclable including the outer plastic like film which is made by NatureFlex.

The packaging is great but the sustainably sourced all natural ingredients used to make up the delicious meals are what really shine. 

The folks at Key West sent me their five products to try and I was just amazed at the quality and taste from a frozen meal.  All seafood used in the products are wild caught not farm raised and they are sustainably sourced.  The veggies used are all non GMO.  The first thing that struck me when I opened one of the chowders to taste was how beautiful it looked - the Wild Salmon chowder looked like something you'd find in an upscale restaurant with plentiful amounts of salmon and red potatoes bobbing about in the broth.

The e.a.t line consists of: 

Wild Salmon Gourmet Chowder
Savoury chunks of MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified Wild Alaskan Salmon, red-skinned potatoes and green onions with a hint of dill delicately blended in light cream.

 
Curried Shrimp Gourmet Chowder
Plump juicy Wild Shrimp and crisp vegetables in fresh cream infused with our signature curry blend.

Atlantic Crab Gourmet Chowder - A flavorful combination of premium Atlantic Crab Meat slowly simmered in light cream with sweet corn, potatoes and onions.

Seafood Tortilla Gourmet Chowder - A Mexican fiesta of MSC certified Wild Alaskan Pollock, organic tomatoes, black beans, sweet corn, and tortilla strips with an accent of fresh lime and jalapeno.

Asian Vegetarian Gourmet Chowder- Grilled organic tofu, mushrooms, sweet potatoes and spinach in an energizing Green Tea and Miso broth. A vegetarian masterpiece.

The combination of superior ingredients and sustainable packaging make the e.a.t frozen meals very appealing to those interested in living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. 

The company should be applauded (its no surprise their packaging won an award) for reconceptualizing frozen meals.  Traditionally the whole market segment of frozen microwave meals are very much unsustainable - their packaging is difficult to recycle even the boxes are treated to resist moisture making them not recyclable.  So these products are a tremendous innovation.

e.a.t frozen chowders are launching this Fall in Canada and will be available in early 2010 in the U.S. 

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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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

How to Pack a Zero Waste Lunch

Bringing lunch with you to school or work is a great way to eat better and save money.  While there are many benefits to packing your own lunch there is one major environmental concern: single use disposable packaging generates significant amounts of waste.

The Center for American Progress (CAP) just ran a great short piece on how to green up your child's school lunch.  CAP estimates each average school-age child who has mostly single serving packaged items in their lunch generates 67 pounds of waste each school year. CAP suggests packaging a zero-waste lunch.

Here’s the basic things to remember:

1) Reuse your beverage container. Use a thermos or a reusable water bottle to carry liquids.

2) Pack a reusable lunch bag. Using the same lunch bag every day creates no waste and is an affordable one-time purchase. You can probably even reuse a bag you already have.

3) Buy in bulk. Buy family-sized packages of cookies, crackers, and chips, rather than individually packaged snacks, and then pack the desired amount each day.

4) Use reusable containers for food. Use Tupperware, or whenever possible wash out old food packaging for reuse. This is great for transporting leftovers.

5) Rise out of old food containers. Reuse old food packaging to avoid throwing it out.

6) Bring your fork from home. Remembering to pack reusable utensils will prevent wasting hundreds of plastic forks, knives, and spoons every year. You can also keep a set of washable cloth napkins on hand to prevent unnecessary use of paper ones.

It’s almost always easier, and cheaper, to replace disposable packaging items with reusable materials. And they’ll save you less trips to the store in the long run, as well as money on things such as plastic and paper bags.

via Center for American Progress

A Nice Thanksgiving

Hope everyone in had a nice Thanksgiving holiday.  Its always nice to gather with family and friends sharing a nice dinner. 

Its also fun to incorporate family items into things like the table setting.  This photo I took shows part of the table arrangement my mother did using her favorite Evesham pattern dinnerware,  a wonderful family heirloom silver bowl some red pears and hydrangea flowers from the yard. 

I thought the setting was beautiful and charming.  It was also very satisfying because it used so many things of meaning to our family.

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

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