Archive for Go Green
Welcome back to the Planet Forward blog for another edition of our weekly green news highlights. This week: Super Bowl XLVI is a lot greener than you think despite the huge consumption at the event; Leonardo DiCaprio: Lyon blend sustainable coffee benefitting the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and various environmental charities; and wind power still growing in California. Just click on the links to learn more.
Image Credit: realclearsports.com
The Super Bowl XLVI: A Super Renewable Opportunity. Did you know that the NFL purchases renewable energy credits in Super Bowl host cities to offset energy consumption? That’s right, they offset the massive energy use and support renewable energy. In fact, the NFL has been going green for a while now but they neglect to brag about their green initiatives when they should be loud and proud. The NFL’s top two teams are league leaders in renewable energy and energy efficiency. ”The Patriots and Giants are leading the way to victory on the gridiron and off the grid. In late 2011, both teams joined the ranks of the Eagles, Redskins, and Cardinals, among others, in pursuing clean ways to power their stadiums. The Giants share their home field, MetLife Stadium (host of the future 2014 Super Bowl), with the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium’s location was built with access to public transportation in mind and the stadium itself was constructed with an eye toward preserving the surrounding meadowlands. Even the seats are made from recycled materials!” And the New England Patriots “launched their own renewable energy campaign, promising to install one megawatt of solar power between Gillette Stadium and the surrounding entertainment center, Patriot Place. The installation, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 800 metric tons, will make the Patriots the league leader in renewable energy offsets.” I’d say that’s a green touchdown.
Leonardo DiCaprio Launches Charity Coffee Brand. That’s right, DiCaprio has aligned with coffee roaster La Colombe Torrefaction for a high-end sustainable coffee line called Lyon. 100% of the net profits from Lyon will benefit environmental charities through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. “Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever,” said Leonardo DiCaprio. “I am thrilled to be a part of this new project with La Colombe that will help aid the shift to a truly sustainable future for the planet and its inhabitants.” LYON will be sold in Williams Sonoma, select Whole Foods locations and La Colombe cafes.
Wind power blowing up in California. The LA Times reported that according to the California Wind Energy Association “wind energy now supplies about 5% of California’s total electricity needs, or enough to power more than 400,000 households.” A lot of that was installed in the Tehachapi area of Kern County, with additional large projects in Solano, Contra Costa and Riverside counties as well. “The total amount of wind energy installations in 2011 created a banner year for wind generation in California and is helping to drive California closer to reaching its goal of 33% renewable energy,” said Nancy Rader, executive director of the California Wind Energy Association.
And that’s it for this edition; stay tuned for more green news.
February 2, 2012
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Manolo Blahnik Going Green with Eco-Friendly Shoes in Spring 2012
Posted by: | CommentsGreen fashion alert: famed shoe designer Manolo Blahnik is coming out with an eco-friendly line for Spring 2012. Blahnik became a household name thanks to Sex and the City fashionista Carrie Bradshaw and her portrayer Sarah Jessica Parker. The rewound shoe designer is teaming up with Marcia Patmos, the former designer for Lutz & Patmos who now runs her own earth-friendly line, M. Patmos. The two will collaborate on a capsule collection of sustainable shoes according to Women’s Wear Daily.
eco-friendly shoes from the Marcia Patmos for Manolo Blahnik collection (Image Credit: Courtesy Photo)
The collection will be available for sale this spring. What makes the line eco-friendly is that is will be made entirely from discarded tilapia skins, raffia and cork.
This collection is Blahnik’s first foray into environmentally friendly luxury apparel. He and Patmos have created two styles for their mini collection one is a “double strap, open-toe flat and [the other is a] strappy, high-heeled sandal in color combinations of electric blue, black, nude and yellow.” Both styles will be available at Blahnik’s retail stores for $895.
Patmos said to Women’s Wear Daily “I am always researching sustainable materials and developments. I love the idea of tilapia skin because it is a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise be discarded, but it’s actually a beautiful material perfect for small leather goods.”
Creating an eco-friendly and sustainable product line, even if it is only a capsule collection, demonstrates the direction that luxury brands are heading in. Consumers are becoming more concerned with sustainability and are using the power of their pocketbooks to get the products they desire. That is why this line is so important, it is indicative of the larger trends happening in retail today.
Blahnik’s shoes are most definitely a luxury item; however, you can feel better about the shoe splurge if the product is made from sustainable materials. Recently, Blahnik’s line has been eclipsed by the famous red soled Christian Louboutin shoes, perhaps this forward thinking line will be what puts him back on top. So, now you can be an eco-chic fashionista come spring 2012.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !
Toddler Skeeball Eco-friendly Craft for Kids
Posted by: | CommentsEco-friendly crafts are more fun when they have an ongoing purpose afterwards. That’s why this week we’re making a Skeeball game that while aimed at toddlers, will be fun for the whole family. The skeeball game is a great eco-friendly craft for kids as it uses up items that you have on hand. A skeeball game like this would be a great addition to a school’s carnival day or even a daycare center’s playtime.
This eco-friendly children’s for Toddler Skeeball craft comes by way of allcrafts.net. Now Let’s get crafting.
Toddler Skeeball eco-friendly craft for kids (Image Credit: allcrafts.net)
Supplies Needed:
• 1 big box (diaper boxes work great)
• 3 (24oz) cottage cheese containers or any other similar containers you have
• utility knife
• small balls/plastic eggs
• printer to print the numbers/letters
Directions:
1. Place the 3 containers on the top of a box and draw a circle around the base.
2. Then use a utility knife and cut the holes that you just marked, but cut them just a little bigger so that you can push the containers in about halfway.
3. Print out the numbers/letters, cut them out and tape to the inside of the containers and put them in the holes you cut in the box.
4. Lean the box up against a wall at a slight angle so that if a ball is in a cup it will stay in and not roll out.
5. Now is the fun part for your toddler. Let him/her place or throw some small balls or plastic eggs into the cups.
This eco-friendly skeeball craft is a fun family activity because everyone can play and you can keep score to see who got the most points after 10 throws. The numbers you placed in the cups will help young kids learn their numbers because you can ask them which number cup their ball went into. If you want older children to be a part of this craft, have them decorate the box after you cut out the holes for the cups and before you place them inside. They can cover the box in images they cut out for magazines, or pieces of construction paper. If you cover the box in a plain paper you can let them draw or paint on the box.
Remember, that only adults should use the utility knife and that children should always be supervised when crafting. You can use soft balls, or even small beanbags to throw in the cups, anything you have on hand that will fit in the cups works well. This is an entertaining eco-friendly craft for kids that is useful at playtime and a great way to spend an afternoon. Plus it allows you to turn things that would otherwise be recycled into a great green craft and enjoyable family game. Have fun.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !
