Archive for sustainable solutions
Welcome back to the Planet Forward blog for another edition of our weekly green news highlights. This week: Masdar, the World’s First Sustainable city in United Arab Emirates, located seventeen kilometres from Abu Dhabi; the Grand Canyon is cleaning up and banning bottled water in favour of reusable bottles at refill stations; and Kraft accomplishes zero waste at 36 plants. Just click on the links to learn more.
(Image Credit: LAVA)
Let’s begin with Masdar: The World’s First Sustainable City. The first sustainable city called Masdar, which in Arabic translates as ‘the Source’ will be located in United Arab Emirates, seventeen kilometres from Abu Dhabi. The design behind Masdar will be developed by Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA). The plan to build the city will occur in seven stages and it’s targeted for completion sometime between 2020-2025. Six buildings of stage one were completed in 2010 with the balance suspended until 2015. Once completed, Masdar City will accommodate 40,000 residents, 50,000 commuters, and over 1,500 companies. No cars or personal vehicles will be permitted within the city. Masdar will be a tribute to sustainability with the following “design elements:
• Zero carbon, zero waste, zero emissions transportation system
• Fossil fuel free
• Powered 100% by renewable energy sources
• “Sunflower” umbrellas that can mediate outside temperature
• Wall surfaces that adapt to changing temperatures
• Rooftop gardens
• Adaptive building facades that adjust to capture sunlight
• Underground water storage
• Sustainability-minded five-star hotel, central plaza, convention center, entertainment complex, and shops”
At a hefty $18.7 billion (US) pricetag, the city footprint will extend 6 square kilometres. “Sunflower umbrellas (see image) will create shade, reflect desert sunlight, and store heat during the day. At night in Masdar, the umbrellas will close, releasing the heat stored during the day and opening up the space for shopping, dining, luxury lodging and even the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency.” Incredible, and hopefully this will inspire future urban developments to follow suit. Watch the video below.
Grand Canyon to ban bottled water sales. Visitors expressed concern that empty plastic bottles scattered around the park are spoiling views of one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The ban was proposed previously and “became controversial when it was delayed in late 2010 after what the public interest group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility charged was pressure by The Coca-Cola Company. The company and park officials have denied such a claim.” Now the ban is coming to fruition, according to Reuters. “The National Park Service has approved a plan that would eliminate the sale of bottled water within 30 days, after nearly $290,000 was spent to install 10 water stations inside the park.” This means that visitors will use the 10 water stations available to refill reusable water bottles. Clearly refilling reusable water bottles over buying plastic bottles is a more sustainable solution and will help preserve the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon. “Our parks should set the standard for resource protection and sustainability,” John Wessels, the park service’s intermountain region director, said in a statement. With 4.5 million tourists visiting the Grand Canyon annually, it’s estimated that “disposable bottles account for 20 percent of the park’s waste and 30 percent of its recyclables.”
Kraft Foods Wages War On Waste, One Plant At A Time. The Kraft corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability program hones in on six areas: waste management, agricultural commodities, packaging, energy, water and operations related to transportation and distribution. By the end of 2010, Kraft had eliminated 42 percent of its wastes. In a press release, Kraft explained what they’ve done (and are doing) to reduce waste. “We’re waging war on waste, one plant at a time,” said Christine McGrath, Vice President, Global Sustainability. “Today, we have 36 facilities in 13 countries that send zero waste to landfills, and we’ve reduced our manufacturing waste by 50 percent since 2005. Our strategy is simple: generate less waste and find new uses for the waste we do produce. And our employees are doing just that.” Approximately 90 percent of Kraft’s manufacturing waste is recycled or reused.
Stay tuned for more green news.
February 9, 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 !
Meatless Monday with Spaghetti with Pecorino Romano and Black Pepper
Posted by: | CommentsSometimes the simplest of meals are the hardest to prepare, because they make the most of just a few key ingredients. We have taken the pledge to abstain from eating meat once a week as part of the Meatless Monday movement. Making a meatless dish should be easy and convenient that’s why we’ve found this recipe for you to make for dinner tonight. Spaghetti pecorino romano and black pepper (cacio e pepe) is a simple and delicious rustic Italian meal that you can serve to perfection with these easy steps. This is one meal that you can whip up easily as everything you need you can kept on hand. The recipe for cacio e pepe comes by way of the PBS hit series America’s Test Kitchen (watch the video) . Let’s get cooking.
Spaghetti with Pecorino Romano and Black Pepper (Image Credit: americastestkitchen.com)
INGREDIENTS:
• 6 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese , 4 ounces finely grated (about 2 cups) and 2 ounces coarsely grated (about 1 cup)
• 1 pound spaghetti
• Table salt
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream (see note)
• 2teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons finely ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Place finely grated Pecorino in medium bowl. Set colander in large bowl.
2. Bring 2 quarts water to boil in large Dutch oven. Add pasta and 1½ teaspoons salt; cook, stirring frequently, until al dente. Drain pasta into colander set in bowl, reserving cooking water. Pour 1½ cups cooking water into liquid measuring cup and discard remainder; return pasta to now-empty bowl.
3. Slowly whisk 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water into finely grated Pecorino until smooth. Whisk in cream, oil, and black pepper. Gradually pour cheese mixture over pasta, tossing to coat. Let pasta rest 1 to 2 minutes, tossing frequently, adjusting consistency with remaining ½ cup reserved pasta water. Serve, passing coarsely grated Pecorino separately.
The recipe for cacio e pepe will yield four to six servings and can easily be adjusted to feed a crowd. As this dish only has so few ingredients you should try to buy the best and freshest ingredients you have available. “Imported Pecorino Romano is a hard, aged sheep’s milk cheese with a distinctively pungent, salty flavor that bear’s almost no resemblance to domestic cheeses simply labeled “Romano.” (These wan stand-ins are made with cow’s milk and lack the punch of the real deal).” The difference in the cheese is noticeable, but you can use whatever you prefer. It may sound odd that the recipe dictates the amount of water you use to boil the pasta, however the cooks at America’s Test Kitchen perfect each dish they make and they look into the science behind each recipe. During of 90-100 test of this recipe they found that if you used too much water, it caused the cheese to clump when the dish was put together. When grating your cheese it is best to use the small holes on the box grater when you need fine grate and large holes for a coarse grate. A food processor works well for a fine grate as well; however, specialty cheese shops will finely grate their fresh product for you. If you are able to have your cheese grated for you, ask them to keep the rind. You can use the rind to help flavor tomato sauce or even some soups. If you want to cut the calories in the dish, use half-and-half in lieu of heavy cream.
If you want to add fiber to any pasta dish substitute traditional pasta for a whole wheat variety, know that the box must be labeled 100% whole wheat if you want to obtain any health benefits from your pasta. This simple rustic Italian meal is perfect to serve if you have unexpected company as it has an understated elegance and sophistication any foodie would appreciate. Complete this offering with a large balsamic dressed green salad and a glass of good organic wine. The best part about this dish is that you know every ingredient in it and it celebrates Meatless Monday. Buon appetito!
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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 !
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 !
