A Revolutionary Alternative to a Not-So-Revolutionary Product

FOREWORD: To be honest, when I looked upon this topic, a barrage of ideas came to me, all yearning to be put into the written word. However, my idea of ‘an environmentally friendly/ethically made/sustainable product’ proved to be of a much higher standard than what my original ideas presented. Stalled, but not defeated, I gazed towards the heavens (the internet) for answers. When I finally found my product, I instantly realized that my solution was not normal in the least. In fact, it was so unique that I, along with my parents, found it downright disgusting but yet somehow remarkably refreshing and fascinating. So bearing that in mind, dear readers, read on at your own demise.

            Shoe polish is extremely harmful to the environment.  It contains an unethical amount of neurotoxic chemicals, namely trichloroethylene, methylene chloride, and nitrobenzene, all of which are known human carcinogens easily absorbed through the skin. By using commercial shoe polishes, we expose ourselves and put our fates into the unmerciful hands of these deadly chemicals, potentially leading to our premature deaths. Also, with chemical disposal, our world becomes further endangered. Pollution will increase in the air, in the water, and even in the food we eat. Soon, all natural resources will become unusable, and all life shall fall. In short, the health of our environment defines the health of all species inhabiting Earth. Shoe polish simply is not worth killing Mother Nature in return for a smelly resolution to our shoe problems. Therefore, an alternative must be presented. And with this simple product, we humans can entirely eliminate the need for any funeral marches and extinct races, and instead smile at the fact that our environment is cleaner and our lives are intact. By using Edible Shoe Cream, composed of 100% organic virgin coconut oil, commercial shoe polish can be negated as a shoe-cleaning necessity. Edible Shoe Cream is eco-friendly, without any harmful chemicals, while paralleling the shine factor that normal shoe polishes boast. Edible Shoe Cream also serves as an agent in lovely-looking skin, beautiful lip balm, and a delicious snack! By eradicating conventional shoe polish and replacing it with Edible Shoe Cream, we are doing the world, and ourselves, a huge favour. In summary, we can save our world, give our tastebuds a blast, and look smexy doing it, all with Edible Shoe Cream. Go green!
http://www.greenfibres.com/product/44/62542/edible-shoe-cream.html 

A Practical Alternative

I decided to pick my topic by picking a random item in my refrigerator and trying to argue that it is environmentally friendly or fair trade. Therefore, I apologize if the topic of my paragraph is somewhat mundane or unusual.

       In this day and age, nobody is satisfied with just living off the resources of the Earth and land. We have a preference for using and creating our own resources, such as batteries, stainless steel, plastic and high-fructose corn syrup. Therefore we often take for granted resources that are already lying out there for us to use. For example, the amber-coloured natural sweetener associated with Canada: maple syrup. Maple syrup is arguably one of the most natural products of all the products available to us in our shops and supermarkets, requiring no preservatives, sweeteners or additional chemical of any kind. Also, unlike cane sugar, honey, or corn syrup, which require land to be cleared for the purpose of farming, farming maple syrup is relatively non-invasive and needs only a few paths to access the maple trees and a building to process the sap into syrup, therefore preserving the natural habitats of many different species of animals. Processing maple syrup consists of simply boiling the sap to achieve the required consistency, and requires and produces very few polluting chemicals, if any. In addition, the packaging for maple syrup, whether it be hard plastic or glass, is typically recyclable. Therefore, maple syrup is the most environmentally friendly sweetener that can be found, and is an excellent alternative to honey and especially high-fructose corn syrup.

And, as an added bonus, you can support Canadian farmers by purchasing Canadian maple syrup, thus helping our economy!

Brilliant Earth Jewlery

Many things harm the environment, but has it ever clicked that jewelery also contributes to this problem. People wear jewelery during everyday occasions. The majority of people however don’t think about how jewelery is made and the illegal actions companies engage in to obtain these jewels, such as trafficking and environmental effects. Consequently, by wearing jewelery, we are in turn destroying the earth and harming Mother Nature. Dirty gold mining releases toxic waste into the ecosystem which results in widespread water pollution and damage to landscapes. For instance, cyanide and mercury, two highly toxic substances have been released into the atmosphere freely because of dirty gold mining. Conflict diamonds also known as “blood diamonds”, refer to diamonds mined in African war zones and sold to diamond companies across the world. This involves with human right abuses including violence, worker exploitation, environment damage and child labour.

With all these horrible side affects to the environment, Brilliant Earth is a jewelery organization that does its part to contribute to the environment by obtaining jewelery in eco-friendly ways. They certify conflict free diamonds from Canada and Namibia, have fair labour and eco-friendly practices, and 5% of their profits are donated to help local African communities. Brilliant Earth also recycles precious metals. By doing so, they are reducing the global demand for newly mined gold and decreasing toxic waste substances into the atmosphere. Therefore, recycling metals is a naturally renewable way to make more jewelery. At Brilliant Earth they track how diamonds are transported from mine to market and ensure that they are mined, cut, and polished in a minimal environmental impact. Because diamonds are able to come from ethical sources, they are free from violence and other human discrimination. Personally I love jewelery, and rings are my ultimate accessory. Knowing that I am able to buy jewelery in an eco-friendly way, without causing any harm to the environment or be involved in conflict diamonds is a great thing. Brilliant Earth is still affordable and is the same quality as any other jewelery store. But also, having part of my money contribute to African communities should encourage all people to purchase jewelery from this organization. So is it not amazing that you can look great in high fashion and still be loyal to the environment?

http://www.brilliantearth.com/

Reusable Bag

A bag is everything that one needs to make the world a better place. A bag that can be used over and over again, every week, every day, whenever and wherever one wants. A reusable bag saves oneself, the environment, and your wallet, a little bit at a time. Unlike regular plastic bags, this bag won't cut through skin and that is very helpful for people who walk around with a large load of groceries. The cost of a plastic bag has increased in many stores from being free to an entire FIVE cents PER bag. Saving that nickel will eventually add up, and if the bag is shared among neighbors, it can save hundreds of dollars annually*. Plastic is absolutely horrible for the environment. It destroys the landscape , piling ever higher in our landfills. Plastic bags also kill thousands of animals every year, because animals think they are food and after eating it the WILL die**. Furthermore plastic bags do not degrade well and will sit there for a very looooong time. SO if people start using a few reusable bags, we would have several thousand less plastic bags*, floating in the oceans, sitting in the wilderness, and our landfills. I would use this bag every time as it saves me money, and will reduce the number of bags floating around my house, keeping it organized. Plastic bags hurt when there is too much weight in them and they snap easily, and this reusable will solve both of these problems, so I would use this bag anytime. A single bag, that is all it takes to save the lives of animals, keep the environment that much cleaner, and peoples' wallets filled with nickels.



*Your own results may vary
**Trust me on this, DO NOT try feeding plastic bags to animals at home.....or anywhere else for that matter

The No More No Less Faucet

Water is a vital nutrient needed for the survival of all life forms. This includes plants, animals, and us humans. Yes, even the mighty human race must depend on water to survive. When it comes to helping the environment, water conservation is an important key factor. Even if it is just using less water at home, or turning the tap off, our little contributions often make the greatest difference in water conservation. The product I have chosen is the "No More No Less" faucet designed by Jasper Hou. This product not only provides visual ecstasy, it brings cooking and saving water to a whole new dimension. The LCD screen displays a number of functions that will aid our journey of water conservation. The screen shows the current amount of water flow, and the temperature of the water. This is exceptionally useful when we are making instant coffee or similar products. The amount and temperature of the water can be preset and controlled so that no amount of water goes to waste, and the faucet will immediately stop water from flowing. That means making the perfect cup of instant coffee every single time. Furthermore, the faucet can also record the total water outflow from this faucet, so we will have an idea of how much water we are using. Another function this faucet provides is the 30-second meter. The 30-second meter will turn off the faucet 30 seconds after it was last used to ensure that there is no flooding, and no extra water is wasted. Moreover, to top all of this off, the running water from the faucet powers the LCD screen. This water-conserving faucet does not need any extra electricity and energy to power it. In conclusion, I am tempted to buy this product not only because it is extremely stylish, but it can also help conserve water. Water is important for every living organism's survival, and everyone should participate or try to conserve water. I believe that by using Jasper Hou's invention, the "No More No Less", we can save water from our own home, and spread the idea of water conservation.

http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/09/23/a-quantitative-tap/

Biodegradable Doggie Bags

This planet is a beautiful oasis in our barren solar system, and it is very important the we preserve it by buying and using environmentally sustainable products.One product I would buy and use regularly are biodegradable doggie bags. My dog, Rusty, requires daily walks twice a day. And of course, this requires me to pick up his mess. Since he is a fairly large dog, I use a lot of plastic bags. These plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose and pollute the environment for a very long time. Therefore, by using these biodegradable doggie bags, I can reduce the amount of waste I produce. This is because these bags decompose and are converted to carbon dioxide, water and humic matter, which can then be converted into other natural substances. This is a much smaller burden on the environment compared to conventional plastic bags. Not to mention that once I start using these biodegradable doggie bags, I can go further and use biodegradable bags for my garbage as well. This is an easy, environmentally sustainable product that I can use to contribute to the growing green movement.

Go to this link for more information:

http://www.ecosafeplastics.com/qs/page/2858/0/-1

Biodegradable Doggie Bags

Smart Power Mat!

http://www.powermat.com/us/

The Power Mat

Ever since I've been into highschool, I see electronics everywhere. Mainly cell phones. As a cell phone user, such as myself, I need a long battery life so I can communicate with friends and family. Every night I would need to charge my phone. Charging my phone every day isn't just bad for the battery life, but it is also bad for the environment. My parents and I share the same power outlet. We plug 3 phones into 3 separate outlets. But with this product called The Power Mat, there won't be 3 phones using 3 separate outlets. Not only does this power charger mat provide people much convenience because of the wireless charging that it provides, it also saves more energy. Think about it. Would people rather use 3 plugs for 3 separate phones, or 1 plug for 3 separate phones? Of course many people would pick 1 plug for 3 phones because of its convenience and its eco-friendly way of saving energy. It might take awhile to charge a phone, but if it was set it on charge overnight, it wouldn't even matter one bit. The Power Mat charger doesn't only charge phones, but it can also charge the Nintendo DS, PSP, and many other products if they buy the attachment that allows people to charge their electronics on the mat. Also, the Power Smart mat will not give anyone the hassle of the tangling cords, because of course, this product is a wireless charger. The Power Mat charger also has a auto shut off function. Once the electronic is done charging, it would automatically turn off. This not only saves energy, but it also prevents overcharging of the device's battery, which can shorten battery life. Behind the mat also has a magnetic function which shifts the electronic to the best spot that will provide the most efficient charging. Using this product will help the environment if a lot of people use it. Although it won't change the environment right away, but this is a very good first step.

An Incredible Invention

Since the beginning of time, all organisms require water to survive. Animals drink from streams and ponds directly, but for humans, we use cups. By storing water in containers, it is more efficient for us to obtain it whenever we want. We use paper cups all the time at parties and picnics; however, using them will greatly harm the environment, so mugs and water bottles are tremendously preferred instead. By reusing one metal water bottle instead of hundreds of paper ones, it will be a lot cheaper and environmentally friendly. Also, by using water bottles made from thin stainless steel, it will be extremely light and durable, making it more efficient for people to carry and use. Therefore, just by using a single water bottle, we can save thousands of trees and decrease the amount of land fills on our precious earth. 

Fight the rain without pain

It sure rains a lot in Vancouver, during the fall and winter months and droplets of depression often fall for weeks ruining our mood every day. After a hard day of work, the only thing to make things worse is to look  out and find out that it is raining and one did not bring an umbrella, which means one would be soaking wet by the time he or she gets home. There are, however, ways of changing the situation and since I cannot stop the rain, I found umbrellas that could improve people’s mood as well as save the planet. 

My first product is called the “Brelli”, a great looking Japanese styled umbrella which is made out of 100% biodegradable material. Plus, the design of the umbrella is phenomenal enabling one to walk in the rain in style as well feeling guilty free.   If one wants to pursue more fun, let me welcome you the “Eco Brolly”, it is a metal frame which combines with newspaper that transforms magically into an umbrella. It will not leak in the fall drizzle while making traveling in the rain fun, be it letting a politician one hate soak in the rain or letting Justin Bieber’s face turn soggy, it will definitely make a rainy day more entertaining. Not to mention that it is reusing and putting the newspaper to better use.  Since I walk to school every day, both umbrellas would suit me very well. All in all, it would be extremely difficult to chose between the two, maybe I will take the Brelli, maybe I will take the Eco Brolly, or maybe I should take both.


Eco Brolly
Brelly

The Rotating Cell Phone @_@

Ever since mankind has walked the earth, they have always communicated with each other. Whether it is by speaking with the mouth, with your body, or even with hand gestures, there has always been ways to speak with other people. However, the only problem in communicating back then was that you could not speak to someone from quite a distance. This problem was solved when Alexander Graham Bell made the first phone. This allowed humans to speak to each other from a far distance. This was further revolutionized when Martin Cooper made the first cell phone. The cell phone allows people to be able to bring their cell phone around places with them. However, there is a battery life which needs to be recharged every two to four days. This could be solved with the eco-friendly telephone by Mikhail Stawsky. The cell phone is very simple to use and has a sleek design. The most important is that the phone is charged by either spinning the cell phone around, or by cranking the end of the cell phone. This replaces the method of using batteries on a cell phone with a more eco-friendly item. I, personally, would buy this item because I usually have the problem of my cell phone running low on battery. Thus, with this cell phone, I can recharge my battery by twirling/cranking it and I can do something entertaining at the same time! Therefore, I believe that this product will be a great way for me, and other people, to be more eco-friendly considering the several millions of people that own cell phones.


http://www.yankodesign.com/2009/12/01/fully-analog-cellphone-charging/

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.