Eco Gold – The Impact of Gold Jewelry

With all the attention given to sustainable diamonds and blood diamonds, it kind of makes you wonder about other mined precious gems and metals. Gold is everywhere in our society, and has been a measure of wealth throughout time. Wars have been fought over it, lands discovered for it, cities founded on it, and people slaughtered because of it. Does …

Recycled Fire Hose Gear

It’s amazing how many things we use out there that just get thrown away. Good thing there are creative and resourceful individuals who are willing to try to make products out of recycling just about anything. Recycled sails and recycled inner tube bags are the hot ones right now, but I just found another unique niche, fire hoses.

Recycled Glass Wine and Beer Glassware

Windshields are making a comeback, and they are being recycled to invade everything from wine glasses to flower vases. This is a great thing given how many cars are disposed of each year, just think of all the automotive glass windows and windshields we can save. Most of the recycled glass designs I have found are handmade in places throughout …

Ecowork – Green Office Workspaces

Do you ever get headaches at work and don’t know why? While it is probably your boss or that annoying co-worker, it could just as well be your office furniture. The office is full of toxins, from printers to off-gassing formaldehyde in the desks and cubicle dividers. The EPA even has a name for it, sick building syndrome. It’s more …

Recycled Glassware – Winebottle Vases and Vessels

The TranSglass Recycled Vases and glassware by Emma Woffenden & Tord Boontje are not only beautiful, but also a practical green design solution to the abundance of empty wine bottles out there. Remember, reuse is better than recycling, and although some energy is used to recreate these works of art, it is most likely less than that of the recycling …

Julia Failey Unique Eco Jewelry

There is something about artisan jewelry that captures me, but only when it is beautiful and unique. Julia Failey embodies that spirit with her wonderfully designed nature inspired eco jewelry. I am especially drawn to the pieces displayed below, and it was the rose vine bangles that really captured me. Designed and crafted in her Chicago studio, Julia uses sustainable …

Green Greeting Cards, Notecards and Wrap – Whimsy Press

I don’t always enjoy sending thank you notes and cards for different occasions, but I recently found a small box of blank inside cards with beautiful clean design that just makes me want to write and connect with people. Its strange, I know, but I think there is something to finding that ‘just right’ card that makes you enjoy sending …

Green Up Your Launderd Clothing – Dry Cleaning Re-thought

Ever think what a little tweak here and there to a huge industry such as dry cleaning? There are about 6 dry cleaners just in my one block radius, and they each get enough business to sustain themselves, so it makes me wonder; what kind of impact could a single little change do to preserving the environment? Many of you …

Repurposing & Upcycling – The Ultimate in Green Recycling is Reuse

Repurposing (also known as upcycling or reuse) is really the best way of taking an existing object (usually no longer suited for its original purpose)  and reusing it for another purpose. This can be as simple as creating an art mosaic out of broken dishes, to turning old doors into tables. It can be as creative as you are and …