Archive for stainless steel bottles
Welcome back to the Planet Forward blog for another edition of our weekly green news highlights. This week: transforming plastic bags with 12 DIY tips for upcycling; a BP whistleblower files a lawsuit for wrongful termination after he complained about BP’s oil clean up practices; and alternative fuel apps that tell you where the nearest alternative fuel station is based on your location. Just click on the links to learn more.
Throw Rug weaved from Plastic Bags (Image credit: huffingtonpost.com alamy)
This one is crafty. Reuse Plastic Bags: 12 DIY Upcycle Tips. Plastic bags often clog our landfills so we thought it was appropriate to explore ways to reduce waste. This list of 12 Do-It-Yourself Upcycle tips from the Huffington Post allows you to reuse plastic bags and turn them into fun crafts, toys, art or use them for food storage and baking. Beyond the obvious ways to reuse your plastic bags like lining your waste baskets, you can do fun projects to transform and upcycle your plastic bags into something unique. The list includes making a soccer ball from plastic bags, weaving a throw rug, designing a tote bag and more . Planet Forward would also like to add a 13th to this upcycling list with our popular craft for recycling plastic bags to make jewellery beads.
Ex-BP worker files whistleblower suit over cleanup. A whistleblower lawsuit has been filed against BP by a former employee who claimed “he was fired for airing concerns about the cleanup of Mississippi’s shoreline after the Gulf oil spill.” The suit was filed last Friday in New Orleans by August Walter, who claims that “one of his BP bosses manipulated data on shoreline cleanup and didn’t give the Coast Guard “the true status” of what substances needed to be cleaned.” Walter helped develop the cleanup plans after the 2010 BP oil spill (Deepwater Horizon) and he contends that he was fired in retribution for complaints that BP wasn’t adhering to environmental regulations and was “picking and choosing what oil to pick up.”
Alternative fuels smartphone apps are available for Android providing a GPS guide to the closest alternative energy refuelling stations for any travel route.
“The Alternative Fuels apps include:
• the ‘Alternative Energy Fuelling Directory’ which provides essential information for identifying and locating fuelling/charging stations
• ‘Where to get Biodiesel’, for those users driving vehicles that burn diesel fuels that want to go green
• ‘Where to get NGV’, for those users driving vehicles running on CNG, LNG, or LPG
• ‘My Plug-In Directory’, for users driving vehicles that only re-fuel from electric charging stations
Fuels the apps can help you locate:
• ethanol and methanol
• compressed natural gas (CNG)
• electric fuelling stations
• hydrogen
• liquefied natural gas (LNG)
• biodiesel
The apps will allow users to find the most convenient fuelling stations/charging points, search for alternative fuel stations by zip code, get driving directions, website addresses, facility hours and facility phone numbers.” With these apps it’s easy to drive and service your green car.
And that’s it for this edition; stay tuned for more green news.
January 26, 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 !
3 Most Popular Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives for 2011
Posted by: | CommentsContinuing with our ‘best of 2011’ series this week, we have our top 3 most popular Corporate Social Responsibility stories accumulated from our Planet Forward blog readers. From fashion to Justin Bieber to good old fashioned pizza, there are many terrific examples of corporate social responsibility.
Image: H&M Conscious Collection Fall 2011
In 1st place, H&M launched their ‘conscious party collection’ for winter 2011 which featured a wide variety of styles all constructed from sustainable fabrics like recycled polyester, Tencel and organic cotton. The H&M ‘conscious collection’ initially launched in Spring/Summer 2011, but it was the fall collection that had some of my favourite looks (see photo). “It’s not just about organic cotton any more, the possibilities for creating a complete fashion statement with eco smarter materials are huge now. By designing recurring Conscious Collections we have the opportunity to show in a variety of ways what’s possible using more sustainable fabrics,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M Head of design. Sustainable fashion is where it’s at, and hopefully represents the future of the fashion industry.
In 2nd place, was Canadian heartthrob Justin Bieber’s many acts of social responsibility. Justin Bieber is a brand now like any corporation and he’s using his fame and tremendous financial success for good. He’s done fundraising for charity: water and donated $100,000 to Whitney Elementary while visiting the Ellen Degeneres show. In November, Bieber launched his ‘Under the Mistletoe’ Christmas album, proceeds from which benefit numerous charities including Pencils of Promise and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 3rd place, Pizza Pizza delivered with their slices for smiles fundraiser. During national pizza month (who knew there was one?) in October, Pizza Pizza made a special ‘smile’ pizza and donated a portion of the proceeds from each purchase to support Children’s Miracle Network. The Slices for Smiles Foundation has been helping kids since 2007 and have raised over $700,000 and raised a record $250,000 in 2011. This corporate social responsibility initiative allows customers play a role in the fundraising while indulging in a delicious slice of pizza.
And an honourable mention to massive retailer Walmart Canada for their corporate social responsibility initiative inspiring green students. Through the Green Student Challenge, Walmart Canada asked post-secondary students to submit proposals on how to conduct business in an environmental and sustainable way in an effort to come up with the next big sustainable business idea.
These are just a few of our most popular examples of the many corporate social responsibility initiatives that took place in 2011.
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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 !
Justin Bieber Gives Back this Christmas with Under the Mistletoe Proceeds
Posted by: | CommentsJustin Bieber is getting into the holiday spirit this year by once again giving back to charity. We previously wrote about Justin Bieber’s many acts of social responsibility and now he is spreading holiday cheer with his Christmas album “Under The Mistletoe.” The album is doing more than brightening the holiday season for beliber’s, as the teen sensation is doing something that no other artist on the Universal Music label has ever done before. Bieber’s groundbreaking move is to give part of the proceeds from the album’s sale to benefit various charities. The album, which debuted November 1st, 2011 and continues to do well on the Billboard charts, will be benefiting Pencils of Promise and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to name a couple of charities.
Justin Bieber Album Image Credit: universalmusic.com
Pencils of Promise is a non-profit organization that builds schools in the developing world. They also empower and train young leaders to take action at home and abroad. So far the charity has helped over 1,200 children access education they would not have received otherwise. One of their goals is to create “sustainable educational opportunities.” Over 216,000 instructional hours have been completed to date. This charity will greatly benefit from Bieber’s donation and not just monetarily. The pop star is also lending this and other organizations his notoriety. With Bieber’s ongoing support, the spotlight is on Pencils of Promise. Plus media attention can go a long way in garnering new donations and support.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s goal “is to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” The organization exists in over 36 countries, including Canada and the United States. Bieber has worked with the organization before, since meeting him has been a wish of many sick young people. In fact, Bieber has said it amazes him that he is someone’s choice for a Make-A-Wish dream. He’s giving back to the charity so they can help make more wishes come true and bring a little joy into the lives of kids coping with very serious health issues.
Bieber obviously understands his fan base well, as these are charities that help children and young adults. This type of philanthropy also endears Justin to the parents of his fans as he is setting a good example. He has become a role model because of all the good he has done and continues to do. Unlike many in his position who have come before him, Justin does not seem to take his success for granted. It’s refreshing to find someone who has achieved his level of notoriety and success, who remains humble and grateful. In an interview on the topic of giving some of his proceeds from “Under The Mistletoe” to charity he said, “I have such a big platform it would be silly if I didn’t do something with it.” This simple and straightforward quote illustrates that this is a young man who appreciates his status in the world and will use it to have a positive impact.
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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 !
