Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Windex, Swiffer, Arm & Hammer, Mr. Clean. These are a couple examples of different products we may use to keep our houses clean and smelling fresh. But although these products are good for cleaning houses, are they good for the environment?

The answer is no. So what is an alternative? Eco-friendly cleaning products is the answer! By replacing our original cleaning products with environmentally-friendly products, we can reduce the amount of pollution we emit into the air each day. It is proven that the air inside houses is worse and more polluted then the air outside! For example, the chemicals in all these common household names are very harmful to our atmosphere and to us. Some of the toxins in these products are acetone, ammonia, formaldehyde and  morpholine. Each of these chemicals has a very harmful affect on humans. Some are cancer causing, some damage the liver and kidneys, but they all hurt us and the environment just the same. By switching to eco-friendly cleaning products, we can make homes safer for us and not as harmful to the environment.

wowgreen is a company that manufactures organic cleaning products that are safe, effective, natural and completely harmless. All wowgreen products are made from natural products found on earth and they clean just as good, or better than chemical based products. These products are shipped in reusable cartons, the ink on the labels is made of environmentally-friendly ink, and can be recycled. By enhanced science, this company has found a way to use enzymes from the environment to create cleaning products that break down dirt instead of killing it. If everyone changed to wowgreen or companies similar, the air inside homes would be a lot cleaner and the environment would be helped, not harmed. That is why in the near future I will start using eco-friendly cleaning products.

Have No Fear! Recyclable Plastic Bottles are here!

       Our Planet is currently faced with an issue that threatens the very existence of mankind! With trash starting to accumulate and taking up vast landscapes, the end of human civilization seems imminent. As Many people know, plastic has been a major factor that contributes to the build up of garbage deposits around the globe. Unfortunately, although everyone is seemingly aware of the environmental deficits of the usage of plastic, the issue is often met with neglect. However, with the great invention of recyclable plastic bottles, we have been purged of many environmental concerns that could have haunted us for centuries. I buy it partially because that it is made from already used plastic and will help cut down the amount of plastic that will be buried at the trash yards. The main reason; however, is the low cost attribute that comes along with the purchase of the recyclable plastic bottles.
       Unfortunately, with our modern technology, we still lack the skill and knowledge to find the efficient methods to recycle plastic more than once; therefore, the recycled plastic bottles' production usually comes in small amounts. Another barrier that impedes the proliferation of recyclable plastic bottles is the additives that are applied in the plastic. Often, the plastic comprise of additives such as dyes that provide color to the plastic and fillers that allow the manufacturers to alter the properties of the plastic to their likings (ex. Strengthen the plastic). This induces difficulties in the extraction of the additives during the plastic recycling process. Although humans have not yet found an efficient solution to recycling plastic bottles, thanks to the invention of it, we are able to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic bottles! Together we will protect the earth!
      
For more information on this type of product -
 http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/greener-by-design-2009-water-bottles-at-a-green-conference-sigh.php

 

           

80watt solar panels

          Ever since, Benjamin Franklin created the light bulb and electricity, people have been taking this energy source for granted. It is human nature to take what's more than needed for everyone has greed within themselves. We cannot help it for greed has always been within us ever since the beginning of time. Greed cause a lot of damages to the world. The damages include animal extinction or global warming. Over using electricity is one of the Greatest affect for these damages. Large corporations use a huge amount of electricity to power the plants. Also, a lot of people does not conserve electricity and cause a shortage of this resource; therefore, more non-environmentally methods of creating electricity has to be used.

           For the environmentally friendly reasons, I will buy six 80watt solar panels to power my house. This is the most convenient product for I personally use a lot of electricity. This product does not require any electricity to power, it simply gets solar energy from the sun and transfer the energy into electricity. Although they are very expensive for each solar panel costs around $600-$700 but if they are used for eight years than the money spent for them will even out and using it for more years will save a lot of electricity bills. It is estimated that using the panel can save up to $18000 if used for over 30 years so this satisfies my greed for money. Also, the panels do not cause any pollution for it uses solar energy; therefore, it is very Eco friendly. Furthermore, power outages are common in British Columbia because of the weather and with the panel. Finally, the panel can produce maximum amount of energy in the minimum amount of time.

2X Concentrated Laundry Detergent

For anyone, the feeling of cleanliness is a must! Of course, it is a general rule to have clothes on in public at all times, but after each use, clothes get dirty and the only solution is to put them in the washing machine. Laundry detergents that are 2X concentrated can be a big help not only to your family, but to the environment as well. The concentrated detergent means that less water is used in the formula. Also, the smaller packaging means that there will be a reduction in transportation and fuel costs. Furthermore, the smaller packaging uses less materials resulting in less waste that is stuck in landfills, further damaging our environment. Concentrated detergent makes a big impact on the environment, yet is so easy to incorporate in all of our lives. I know that this product is something my family and I will be using for many years to come.

The Ultimate Product for a Music Lover ♥♫ :)

Ask children now and days, and you will find that most have an ipod, mp3 player, psp, cell phone, or any other device that they can listen to music on. Of course listening music is always great but especially when using transit, or walking places, it can help one stay entertained. But these are public places, and many people have different tastes in music. To keep music personal, people use earphones. Personally, I take my ipod almost everywhere I go and listen to it as much as I can, but I have terrible luck with earphones. Mine tend to break very quickly. This causes me to buy MANY pairs of earphones. When the demand for headphones is so great, it causes a lot of harm to the environment. This is because the process of making the materials for headphones and putting them together is long and harmful to the environment. These eco friendly earphones will cut the process in half. The materials do not have to be made from scrtch, only reformed and put together. Also, the materials that would be reused do not have to go through the process of being disposed safely, therefore making this earphones a "win-win" situation for the evironment. Overall, these eco friendly earphones are recyled from other materials meaning that we are reusing the materials which will reduce the effect on the environment, making them the ULTIMATE eco friendly product for a music lover. ♥♫ :)

Biodegradable Sun Chip Bag!

Everybody enjoys chips, including our family. We stumbled across a brand of Sun chips with a biodegradable bag while shopping. So we bought it and were all eager to test if the bag was truly biodegradable. I buried it in our back yard and waited patiently. After about two months, I went to our back yard and dug for the buried bag. It was really disintegrating in to the earth! This invention is really helpful to our earth in that many people nowadays still litter. They would litter without any respect to our mother earth. But with this technology, if they litter it will degrade in to the earth. This proves that other products that produce waste could also use biodegradable wrapping. I encourage more people to buy environmentally friendly products with less waste. I also support companies to make more products with biodegradable materials. The biodegradable waste idea is truly a great invention.


http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/top-uses-for-a-sun-chips-compostable-bag-2397222

My Eco-friendly product :)

Global warming is a huge issue that it is daunting for a single person to help be a part of the solution. In the years to come, this problem might even worsen. Therefore, in the future, I will definitely take many steps in being eco-friendly. Honestly, just starting at home, the one product that I would surely buy is the florescent light bulb. Compared to incandescent lamps of the same luminous flux, florescent bulbs have a longer rated life and use less energy. They produce less heat, therefore safer to operate. It can also cut energy costs allied with home cooling. An 18-watt fluorescent light bulb, over its lifetime, uses far less electricity than a 75-watt incandescent bulb. In fact, the use of a fluorescent bulb saves the use of coal. This translates into less carbon dioxide being released into the Earth's atmosphere. These bulbs are one of the easiest, most eco friendly energy saving solutions available today. I would be turning to energy-efficient spiral fluorescent light bulbs and the reason simply is to help save our earth rather than contribute to the problem. Anyone could be a part of this change if they are determined.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfmfuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=LB

Solid Ideas for a Greener Living

I appreciate the fact that the public is starting to value our planet and all its resources, that now, environmentally friendly products are the newest trend. From CFL light bulbs to organic cotton clothing to fair trade food items, these products are helping our planet little by little.

I, personally, love the company Lush. If you have not heard of it, it is a company that produces a variety of eco-friendly, organic, vegetarian, handmade cosmetics and bath and body products. Lush is firmly committed to their policy against animal cruelty and testing. It is not necessary for a rabbit to go through excruciating pain, even death, to see if a product is sufficient enough. They use as little packaging as possible. If packaging can not be avoided, Lush uses 90% recycled material. Products are also made locally to reduce emissions produced by transportation vehicles. Lush uses ingredients that are produced in a sustainable way. All products, except a few, are biodegradable and compostable. So now we get to the product. Lush produces and sells solid shampoo bars. The greater of the liquid shampoos that are available in stores are mainly water, chemicals, fragrance, and preservatives, all in a plastic bottle. However, there is no need of a plastic bottle for this fresh find. These have saved about 6 million plastic bottles worldwide alone. No wonder it was the winner of the Best Green Packaging Award. Because this shampoo is solid, Lush avoided using exceedingly great amounts of water, about 450,000 litres. Take out the water, and there is no place for bacteria and no need of preservatives. The shampoo bars are highly concentrated, therefore you can get somewhere between 80 to 100 washes out of one bar, the same amount out of 2 to 3 liquid shampoo bottles. This company has taken the step, and we can also take this environmental step forward.

About Lush:

http://www.lush.ca/shop/about-lush/articles

Solid Shampoo Bars:

http://www.lush.ca/shop/products/haircare/solid-shampoos/

http://www.lush.ca/shop/about-lush/articles/our-green-initiatives/naked.html

Chopsticks to Go

Nowadays, everyone who eats outside, at a Chinese food court for example, will use disposable chopsticks because they are always provided and nobody ever thinks twice before using it. However, studies show that in China, about 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks are thrown out every year. Just to clarify how much this is affecting the environment, 45 billion chopsticks are equal to about 25 million fully grown trees! I would buy these portable chopsticks because not only are they Eco-friendly, they are also healthier to eat with. Disposable chopsticks, the very white wooden ones, have been found with sulphur dioxide on them, which the companies use to bleach the disposable chopsticks. While there is a chance of getting sick by using the disposable ones, using the portable ones are not only hygienic, but also very easy, and stylish, to carry around! Everyone these days are told to recycle unused and old pieces of paper, yet wooden chopsticks are thrown out everyday! Buying these portable chopsticks would be the same idea as recycling paper (I think)! So I would buy, and carry, these chopsticks to not only save the environment, but also to lessen my chances to get sick as well.

http://www.goodsfromjapan.com/product/product-list.php?cID=108&cName=Chopsticks&pID=0&pName=Product-list

Evolution Of Smooth

Ever since 3500 BC, people have relied on makeup for everyday beauty. The problem with makeup is that it contains harmful chemicals that enter the environment and the human body. During the 20th century, the popularity of cosmetics have increased rapidly. Lip balms made from companies include LSD and other illegal acids. They are loaded with synthetic ingredients that do little for our lips. Many of these chemicals can cause breast cancer, brain tumors and other hormone problems. In order to achieve beauty, people are taking on and fighting toxins everyday. Lip balm has become an essential product in my life. Chapped lips drives me insane. When I got hold of this EOS lip balm, it has become the new obsession in my life. EOS lip balm is made out of 100% natural ingredients and 95% of those ingredients are organic. It is gluten-free, paraben-free, petrolatum-free and phthalate-free. The shea butter, vitamin E and jojoba oil keeps my lips smooth and moisturized throughout the day. The main reason I purchased this product was because of its packaging. The container it comes in is also eco-friendly. The lip balm is contained in an egg shaped container which is unique and different. EOS lip balms are found at most drug stores and are very affordable. The container holds a larger amount of product versus regular drug store lip balms. The effectiveness of this eco-friendly lip balm makes the environment and me smile.

http://www.evolutionofsmooth.com/products_lip_sphere.html

~RECYCLED VACUUM CLEANERS~

The environmentally friendly product that I would buy is Electrolux's vacuum. This vacuum is made up of recycled plastic found on beaches or in the sea. This vacuum is fully functional and can suck up dirt off a rug just like any other ordinary vacuum. These vacuums are also individually unique in terms of design because they are all each made up of different bits of garbage found. Therefore, it's nearly impossible to find two vacuums with the same design. This product is ideal for me because I have a lot of debris on my carpet floor and it'd really be helpful if I had a vacuum cleaner to pick it all up. Personally, I think this vacuum is a very brilliant invention to be eco-friendly. I also like the fact that it's basically garbage cleaning up more garbage. This vacuum truly is an amazing product.

My Ideal Eco-Friendly Product :)

As someone who loves to listen to music, my choice for an eco-friendly product would probably be a pair of solar powered speakers. Instead of using batteries or plugging them in, the speakers use the sun as their source of power. Also, since it will be unnecessary to buy batteries or to waste energy from an outlet, the speakers will save one's money. Six hours of "charging" in the sun can store enough energy to play music for about 8 hours! I do realize that in the wintertime, there won't be any sun, but looking on the positive side, one can be eco-friendly and save money in the summertime, which isn't exactly too bad. Personally, this product is very ideal seeing that it is also portable and lightweight which makes it efficient for me to use. In conclusion, I think this product is one of the easiest ways to be eco-friendly since it is used by many, especially teenagers, the future generation.

Zen...without the yoga mat!

Ever since mankind learned how to walk, we have had the need to go places: along the way, humans have gotten tired of just walking, and invented the wheel, horse-drawn carts, and now cars. Humans currently depend on cars to get around more than walking, whether it be a bus, a sky train, or the car parked in the garage. However, what is more important than our means of transportation is the way our precious earth is affected by it, from burning non-renewable fossil fuels to releasing toxins into the atmosphere. Even carpooling does not make the cut anymore, since a harmful vehicle is nonetheless used, and more gasoline is burned with each additional person.

Every time that I get into a vehicle of any kind (in particular, the family car), I cringe when the driver turns on the engine; now that I am just months away from getting a learner's license of my own for driving, the guilt has to be overcome. Indeed, there is a way to get around quickly without compromising the environment. The ZENN car, from the Canadian ZENN Motor Company, lives up to its name, and allows drivers--and their wallets!--to be in Zen as they make their daily trips. I would purchase the ZENN car, priced $11,000 to $13,000, because it is a superior alternative to not only regular vehicles, but also other environmentally-friendly battery-powered electric cars. The vehicle's Ceramic EEStor battery is more efficient, for it weighs less, is smaller than most batteries, uses less energy to run, and has a negligible temperature versus effect on energy storage rate. Furthermore, it has greater sustainability, due to the battery's 1,000,000+ cycle life and uses no hazardous materials whatsoever. Moreover, the ZENN car will literally permit me to drive or ride in Zen: the cleverly named brand stands for Zero Emission No Noise, and does not make that irritating purr-like resonance when starting or driving the vehicle. Thus, I can achieve distance and peace of mind, without giving away our future.

First Question of 2010!

SHOPPING!

We all shop (or will eventually have to shop) for all sorts of things.

I want you to look at the things you or your family buys. Do you just buy them because they are convenient, cheap, or brand names?

Think: Shoes, coffee, clothing, food… et cetera.

You task for the first entry is to find an environmentally friendly/ethically made/sustainable product that YOU would buy regularly (or use often).

Write one paragraph on WHY you would buy this paragraph, and provide a link to your product (hopefully there is one available).

To be published by Oct 31, 2010.

* TO PUBLISH: Log in, click on the class blog. Click on "new post". When you have checked it, edited it, and made sure it's perfect, click publish at the bottom of the post.