Eco News

I read a lot...books, magazines, the Internet.  I seem to spend a lot of my reading time lately on environmental issues.  It is something I am really interested in learning more about.  I want to be educated on what I can do to make a difference.  Here are some of the more interesting bits of info I have read recently.

From Self magazine's July 2008 issue: Clif bar and TerraCycle have a program called the Wrapper Brigade.  The nationwide initiative recycles packaging that consumers submit and is weaving it into material for backpacks, gym totes and other products to be in Target stores next year.  Wrapper Brigade also donates two cents per wrapper to a charity of your choice. 

From Self magazine's July 2008 issue: 61% of women agree that it is difficult to tell which beauty products are natural or organic, a study from the Benchmarking Company, a research firm in McLean, Virginia, reports.  Look up eco-friendly products at GreenerChoices.org. 

From Body + Soul magazine's July 2008 issue: Two companies give new life to old clothes-

The Urban Renewal collection by Urban Outfitters features pieces constructed from discarded clothing and accessories.  

Goodwill Industries teamed up with designer Nick Graham to create William Good, a repurposed clothing line that aims to save 100% of unsold donated items from landing in the trash.  Find current styles at ecocitizenonline.com or, next spring, at retailers around the country.

From Body + Soul magazine's July 2008 issue: If we recycled 100 million unused cell phones, we could save enough energy to power 194,000 homes in America for a year.  To find an e-cycler, visit epa.gov/cellphones.