With fast fashion and quick turnover key commercial ingredients of today’s garment and apparel industry, excess textile production is prompting the sector to gravitate towards more recycling and re-use of materials, to conserve energy, increase sustainability and lower raw material costs. (more…)
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November 1, 2012 | Categories: eco, Hospitals, lifestyle, manufacturing, Nursing, organic, recycling, scrubs, sustainability | Tags: American Nurses Association, Clothing, eco, mantrameds, Nurse, organic, Organic cotton, Organic Farm, Organic farming, recycle, recycled, Recycling, Registered nurse, scrubs, Sustainability, sustainable, Textile, textiles, United States | Leave A Comment »
Sims Municipal RecyclingChildren from P.S. 63 in the East Village exploring the Recyclarium’s exhibits on disposal and sorting on Tuesday.
As a state-of-the-art recycling plant rises in Brooklyn, a mobile educational space known as the Recyclariumwill be making the rounds this fall to give young New Yorkers a taste of what’s coming.
The trailer, revealed on Tuesday at P.S. 63 in the East Village, offers exhibits and interactive games that explain the ins and outs of recycling, from disposing of the materials properly to processing what eventually emerges as the recycled product. The city’s schools chancellor, Dennis M. Walcott, was on hand for the affair, which also featured a composting event.
The trailer accommodates 10 to 15 children at a time and takes about 30 minutes to explore.
As for the new recycling plant, officials with Sims Metal Management Municipal Recycling, the company that recycles the city’s metal, glass and plastic, say it will open on the waterfront in Sunset Park and include an education center with classroom space to promote recycling.
The city’s Department of Sanitation is paying the costs of the Recyclarium in the hope of spreading the idea of minimizing trash to children and young adults. Recycling is far less ingrained in New York City than it is in cities like San Francisco or Seattle.
The department also recently created the position of deputy commissioner to help the Bloomberg administration meet its goal of doubling the city’s recycling rate of 15 percent by 2017.
In addition to interactive games, the trailer presents dozens of recycling facts. Among the factoids: New Yorkers throw away 146,200 tons of glass per year. If all of it were recycled into sand, it would be enough to fill 718 sand volleyball courts, one for each elementary school in the city.
Article courtesy of MIREYA NAVARRO with the NYtimes http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/on-the-move-a-recyclarium-for-new-york/?utm_source=Kazi+Media+Group&utm_medium=Kazi+Media+Group
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August 9, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, recycling, sustainability | Tags: brooklyn, department of sanitation, east village, mireya navarro, municipal recycling, new york times, NYC, recyclarium, recycle, sims metal management, Sims Municipal Recycling, times | Leave A Comment »
View full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/02/barrington-ri-plastic-bag-ban_n_1732887.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000040
BARRINGTON, R.I. (AP) — Answering the question ‘paper or plastic’ could get a lot easier in one Rhode Island town if local leaders support a call to ban plastic shopping bags.
Hundreds of residents and more than a dozen business owners in Barrington are pushing to scrap the sacks, which they say take up valuable landfill space and litter streets, streams and shorelines. But critics — including an alliance of plastic bag manufacturers — say prohibiting the ubiquitous bags would only reduce consumers’ options while doing nothing to help the environment.
The Barrington Town Council voted on Monday to direct the town’s solicitor to draft a proposed ban. The move follows a recommendation by the town’s Conservation Commission to prohibit plastic shopping bags to encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bag. Under that recommendation, shoppers could also purchase paper bags for 5 cents each.
“It wouldn’t be a big deal to me,” said Linda Alves, who was shopping for home office supplies Wednesday in Barrington, an affluent town 20 minutes from Providence. Alves opened the trunk of her car and pulled out two reusable bags. “I have so many of these things, who needs the plastic?”
San Francisco was the first U.S. city to ban plastic shopping bags back in 2007. Several cities have followed, including Los Angeles and Seattle. The bags are banned throughout Hawaii. Westport, Conn. is the only New England community with such a ban.
“It’s a matter of changing habits, and that’s not always easy,” said Jonathan Cunitz, a member of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting and an advocate for the ban, which went into effect in 2009. “But people are now more conscious of the environment and we don’t see plastic bags on the street or on our waterfront.”
But an organization founded by plastics manufacturers to fight proposed bans argues that outlawing the bags could threaten more than 30,000 plastic bag manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Donna Dempsey, spokeswoman for the Washington D.C.-based American Progressive Bag Alliance, said the plastic bag has gotten a bad rap.
(more…)
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August 2, 2012 | Categories: eco, recycling | Tags: barrington, debate, green, huffington post, huffpost, Plastic, plastic bag, plastic bag ban, recycle, RI | Leave A Comment »
Here at MantraMeds, our scrubs are made from recycled plastic but we like to emphasize that making our planet a more sustainable place means practicing all 3 R’s: Reducing, Reusing & Recycling. Here is a great article from HuffPost Green on reducing use of plastic on all your fresh summer produce!
I started shopping at my farmers market this summer. I’ve noticed people putting fruits and vegetables directly in their totes, without taking the plastic bags some vendors offer. But how do you keep produce fresh in the fridge without the plastic?
-Raina
Not long ago, I asked myself that same question. I had recently invested in a large set of organic cotton reusable produce bags, and while I was feeling mighty proud of myself each time I ventured out to the market (look how eco-friendly I am! Who needs those wasteful plastic produce bags?), the scene in my fridge a few days later was less than pretty.
Stored in plastic, fruits and vegetables would have normally stayed fresh for at least a week. But left in my new reusable bags, all my beautiful produce fast turned into a wilted, spoiled mess. (Even the “crisper” bin seemed to do just the opposite, no matter what the setting.)
I’ve written before about the enormous environmental implications of wasted food; needless to say, my cloth produce bags were not coming close to offsetting the yearly 34 million tons of food waste to which I was now contributing.
But obviously, there were reasons to avoid the plastic bags, too (wildlife-destroying pollution, needless oil consumption, endocrine-disrupting chemicals). They also didn’t seem necessary: After all, plastic produce bags only came into being in the 1960s; plastic grocery bags, a decade later. There had to be a way to keep my fruits and veggies fresh without them.
Enter Beth Terry. As author of the blog My Plastic-free Life and the recently released book Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too, Terry knows how to keep everything from persimmons to parsnips fresh with nary a plastic bag in sight: She’s lived plastic free (and not just in the produce department) since 2007.
Terry’s storage methods come largely from Ecology Center Farmers’ Markets in Berkeley, CA, which createdthis guide on how to store more than 60 kinds of fruits and vegetables. But being the plastic-free pro that she is, Terry of course had some suggestions to add. With her help, I’ve created a condensed version for you that includes her input, below.
*Note: While the Ecology Center guide occasionally calls for paper products, Terry tries to limit these; she opts for cloth bags or plastic-free reusable containers instead. (“While plastic is truly problematic, all single-use disposable bags and wrappers have an environmental footprint,” she says.) She suggests a variety of different bags and containers on her site.
(more…)
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July 26, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, recycling, sustainability | Tags: huff post, huffington, huffington post, Mantra, mantrameds, Organic cotton, Plastic, produce, produce bag, recycle, reduce, reuse, scrubs, storage, sustainable | 1 Comment »
This is a guest post from Tom Szaky, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of TerraCycle, which provides free waste collection, and then turns that waste into sustainable products. View our previous post about TerraCycle here: http://mantrameds.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/terracycle-outsmart-waste/
Widely quoted estimates suggest that 90% of the ‘stuff’ we buy is discarded within 6 months of purchase. What’s worse is that 10% of this “stuff” ends up going to some type of waste-to-energy facility, while the remaining 90% of America’s waste ends up in a landfill.
With over 360 million Americans and counting producing on average about 4 pounds of waste a day, it is clear that our recycling systems need to be expanded to accept a wider range of materials, and fast. Worse yet, even commonly recyclable packaging formats such as PET and HDPE plastic bottles are only recycled at an estimated (and paltry) 25%.
(more…)
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July 25, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, recycling, sustainability | Tags: america, paltry, Plastic, recyceable, recycle, recycled, Recycling, terra cycle, terracycle, tom szaky, Waste | Leave A Comment »
At their recent commencement, more than 5,000 graduates at George Washington University joined hundreds of thousands of other students across the country in forgoing traditional polyester gowns for versions made entirely from bits of melted plastic.
By Maggie Fazeli Fard, The Washington Post
When George Washington University’s Class of 2012 marched across the Mall in D.C. to accept its degrees recently, the nation’s backyard was transformed into an eco-fashion runway.
Sure, the men wore dress shirts and slacks while the women donned colorful spring dresses and shoes that wouldn’t sink in soft soil. But on top of these outfits, each GWU student sported the newest trend: gowns made from plastic bottles.
More than 5,000 graduates at GWU joined hundreds of thousands of other students across the country in forgoing traditional polyester gowns for versions made entirely from bits of melted plastic.
“The ‘green’ gowns look and feel the same, and the students were really excited,” said Robert Blake, the manager of the GWU bookstore and a member of the university’s regalia committee. “For us, this was really a no-brainer.”
The eco-friendly fashion statement is part of a larger effort by colleges and universities to reduce the carbon footprint of commencement ceremonies.
Read full article here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018289998_greengowns27.html
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June 25, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, manufacturing, recycling, sustainability | Tags: cap and gown, caps and gowns, Carbon footprint, D.C., DC, george washington, george washington university, gown, graduation gown, GWU, maggie fard, maggie fazeli fard, polyester, recycle, recycled, recycled bottle, recycled polyester, RPET, seattle times, washington post | Leave A Comment »
ECOFACT:
Only 30% of people in the Southern region of the United States had curbside recycling collection in 2008. Eighty-four percent of people in the Northeast had curbside recycling. The South also has the most landfill facilities – 726, in contrast with 134 in the northeast. [EPA]
MantraMeds posted an entry on June 1st with a great resource for finding your local recycling centers – check it out here: Recycling Center Search Engine.
Fact courtesy of Busch Systems – like them on Facebook
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June 11, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, manufacturing, recycling, sustainability | Tags: busch, busch systems, center, curbside, curbside recycling, eco, ecofact, fact, Mantra, mantrameds, recycle, Recycling, recycling center, recycling collection | Leave A Comment »
Making recycling make sense
http://www.how2recycle.info/
Variation in recycling programs, unclear labeling, and inaccurate recyclability claims make proper recycling a challenge. The How2Recycle Label was created to provide consistent and transparent on-package recycling information to consumers.
Store Drop-Off
We created a special version of the label for plastic bags and films that are accepted primarily at retail stores with plastic bags. For more information, see plasticbagrecycling.org.
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June 8, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, manufacturing, recycling, sustainability | Tags: how 2 recycle, how2recycle, label, Plastic, recycle, recycle label, recycle plastic, Recycling, recycling program | 1 Comment »
Published June 05, 2012
Another label is coming to popcorn, yogurt and other products, but instead of adding to the visual noise caused by some confusing labels, this one is designed to give plain and simple recycling information.
The How2Recycle label, created by nonprofit GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition(SPC), will pop up on 10 companies’ products throughout the summer and into 2013. The label explains the recyclability of each component of the package, clearly stating the material each part is made from and adding special instructions if needed.
“When consumers think about sustainability, they think about recyclability, so having that transparent communication is really important,” said Anne Bedarf, SPC’s senior manager.
The standard recycling symbol means a material is widely recycled, while the symbol with a slash through it means the material isn’t recycled. The addition of the phrase “check locally” means the material is recycled in limited areas. The label with the phrase “store drop-off” is for plastic bags, wraps or films that are accepted at many grocery and retail stores.
The How2Recycle label is already being used on two Seventh Generation products — a limited edition 180 oz. detergent bottle and new 22 oz. pre-wash spray — and more than 50 products at outdoor gear company REI.
Both companies are members of the SPC, and fellow members ConAgra Foods (NYSE: CAG), Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will join them in using the label on Orville Redenbacher popcorn, Kirkland Signature brand products and computer accessories.
The label will also crop up on fellow SPC member products, including General Mills’ (NYSE: GIS) Yoplait yogurt fridge pack, Esteé Lauder Companies’ (NYSE: EL) Aveda Outer Peace Acne Pads, and Sealed Air’s (NYSE: SEE) Fill-Air Inflatable packaging, and will also be found on Ampac’s No. 2 Pouch and goods at BJ’s Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ).
Consumers appreciate labels
Transparency was one impetus behind the birth of the label, which started as discussions among SPC members in 2007 about greenwashing in brand labels. Concerned companies asked the SPC to research material and recycling labels, which ultimately led to the SPC asking its members to develop their own ideas for what an informative recycling label should look like.
The SPC took those ideas and spent much of 2010 speaking with governments, trade associations, recyclers and the Federal Trade Commission to get input before rolling out the How2Recycle label.
The label is partially based on the On-Pack Recycling Label in the United Kingdom, which also breaks down each packaging component and declares how commonly it’s recycled.
Bedarf said studies of the U.K. label found consumers appreciate that companies are clear about the recyclability of their packaging, even if the materials can’t be recycled.
Danielle Peacock, an SPC project associate, said the same thing is happening here.
“U.S. consumers are also finding that just knowing that the company is making an effort means a lot to them,” she said. “They think highly of the company just for using it.”
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June 7, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, manufacturing, recycling, sustainability | Tags: conagra, conagra foods, costco, http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/06/05/costco-rei-microsoft-make-recycling-easy-new-label?utm_source=E-News+from+GreenBiz&utm_campaign=d408862d65-GreenBuzz-2012-06-06&utm_medium=email, jonathan bardelline, kirkland, Mantra, mantra meds, mantrameds, microsoft, organic scrub, orville redenbacher, recyclable, recycle, recycled, rei, seventh generation, spc | 1 Comment »
One of our MantraMeds Insiders took our sustainable medical scrubs to Panama on a medical mission. His team performed routine dentistry for people in need while there. He wrote us:
The scrubs were great thanks so much. I was in Penonome, Panama for 2 weeks doing dental work in poor communities. I appreciate you getting me the scrubs so quickly and exchanging sizes, ya’ll made it really easy. They were the best looking scrubs in Panama.
Find out more about the MantraMeds Insider Program here: http://mantrameds.wordpress.com/insider-program/
Sign up to become an Insider here: http://www.mantrameds.com/insider-signup
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June 5, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, manufacturing, Nursing, organic, recycling, scrubs, sustainability | Tags: dentist, dentistry, eco friendly, Insider, insider program, Mantra, mantrameds, medical mission, organic, organic scrubs, panama, recycle, recycled scrubs, scrubs, sustainable | 1 Comment »
Earth 911 is a great resource for everyone from diehard recycling enthusiasts to people who are just considering recycling. This search option allows you to find a facility near you that will recycle anything under the sun! Just look at all the different types of plastic you can recycle. Go to http://search.earth911.com/ to see for yourself!
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June 1, 2012 | Categories: eco, recycling, sustainability | Tags: Earth, earth 911, Plastic, recycle, recycleable, recycling facility, search | Leave A Comment »
MantraMeds is big on recycling! Our scrubs are made of Texas Organic Cotton and Repreve Recycled Polyester.
Check out this video from the Recycled Regatta at Waterfest 2012! Click the image below or go to the following link to view Youtube video. http://youtu.be/-qt-0Kxc72Q
Recycled Regatta at Waterfest 2012
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May 21, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, manufacturing, recycling, sustainability | Tags: Brevard, kiwanis, Mantra, recycle, recycled boat, recycled regatta, recyclefest, Repreve, texas organic, waterfest | Leave A Comment »
People who are interested in a career improving their community might be interested in a masters degree in human services from an online school.
Courtesy of Earth 911
We all know recycling is good for the environment, but many don’t realize the ways recycling can positively impact their own community. These days, there are more than just moral incentives for communities to establish recycling options and encourage participation.
Here are five ways the benefits of recycling can hit close to home:
Photo: Shutterstock
1. Creates Green Jobs
Recycling has become a major industry that reaches far beyond your average curbside pickup program. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2010 employment in green goods and services accounted for 3.1 million jobs in the United States. The green job potential grows exponentially the more communities invest in their own recycling efforts.
It’s easy to associate green jobs with what we see most often, such as curbside collection services, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot to do with recycling that goes on behind the scenes.
Once a recyclable material is collected, it usually requires processing to transform it into a valuable material that can be reused. From there, those refined materials get manufactured into new products made from recycled material.
None of these steps can take place without businesses and employees to collect, transport, process and manufacture recovered materials. When put in the context of the numerous types of materials collected, such as glass, plastics, paper and metal, it is easy to see how the potential for green jobs adds up.
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May 14, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, recycling, sustainability | Tags: community, earth 911, environment, green, green job, industry, job, recycle, Recycling | 1 Comment »
Green Lessons Our Moms Taught Us
Read full article on Earth911: http://earth911.com/news/2012/05/08/green-lessons-our-moms-taught-us/
by Alexis Petru05/08/12
Photo: Shutterstock
Moms teach their children a variety of lessons as they grow up – from how to tie their shoes to the importance of spending quality time with loved ones. As we get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, Earth911 couldn’t help but realize that many of the values our moms imparted are actually very eco-friendly – whether Mom was an enthusiastic eco-advocate or not. From finding new uses for scraps others might have thrown away to encouraging us to stand up for our beliefs, here are five green lessons our moms taught us.
1. Family and friends are more important than material possessions
You know your mom would like nothing more than to spend some quality time with her kids this Mother’s Day – and would prefer this gift of time over flowers, jewelry and other store-bought presents.
This is just one of the values mothers pass down to their children that happen to be very green: Spending time with your loved ones is more important than buying the hottest new car, latest designer outfit or just-released electronic gadget.
Of course, prioritizing your friends and family and living green doesn’t mean quitting your job and avoiding new purchases altogether. But what’s better for the Earth – and your family – is to buy only items you need and think carefully about each purchase, opting for high-quality goods that will last for a long time. Remember, the first “R” of the famous “three R’s” is to reduce: When you reduce your unnecessary purchases, you end up consuming fewer resources and disposing of less waste.
In fact, this philosophy of buying only the necessities and abstaining from impulse shopping has freed up time for two eco-moms, Béa Johnson whose family strives to lead a zero-waste lifestyle and Meg Hourihanwho is spending the year trying to avoid new purchases.
“Now that we’re not burdened by stuff, we have more time do things we truly enjoy. I have more time to play with my kids,” Johnson told Earth911 last year.
Ask Yourself: Could You Go A Year Without New Stuff?
2. Nothing beats a home-cooked meal
No matter how old you are or how many Michelin-rated restaurants you’ve eaten in, there’s nothing quite like the comfort and warmth of your mom’s best homemade meal.
And while Mom may have whipped up home-cooked meals to save the family money or to promote better health, it turns out that home cooking is a great way to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.
By steering clear of takeout lunches and frozen dinners, you’re cutting down on food packaging, including many materials which cannot be easily recycled through local collection programs – such as polystyrene foam clamshell containers or frozen food packaged in plastic bags. You can further reduce your waste when cooking for yourself by buying in bulk to avoid packaging or choosing products packaged in materials that are recycled in your community.
Cooking from scratch also gives you more control over the meal’s ingredients, so you can pick organic, free-range and local choices to reduce your environmental impact.
Get Cooking: 5 Kitchen Staples You Can Make Yourself
3. Stand up for what you believe in
Mothers don’t just impart important values to their children; they also remind their kids to actively pursue their principles and defend their beliefs when they are challenged.
If sustainability is your passion, there are plenty of things you can do in your local community, school or workplace to make a difference and make your mama proud.
To prevent usable items from ending up in the landfill, organize a citywide garage sale or bicycle repair and recycling program in your community. You can also start a food scraps composting program at your school or a recycling program at your office or apartment complex. Or volunteer your time weeding and tending plants at your local community garden or picking up litter at a local beach cleanup event.
Get Inspired: How One Man Started A Recycling Program
Read full article on Earth911: http://earth911.com/news/2012/05/08/green-lessons-our-moms-taught-us/
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May 10, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, organic, recycling, sustainability | Tags: alexis petru, earth911, green, lesson, mom, mothers day, recycle, sustainable | Leave A Comment »
Pepper – the Eco Friendly Dog
By Gia Machlin
This is Part I of a two-part post on how consumers can use Eco Labels to distinguish the green from the greenwash.
After years of making fun of dog owners in the city, I became one myself: a city dweller with a canine friend. Meet Pepper. Of course now I think having a dog in the city is the best thing since sliced bread, but I still feel somewhat ridiculous picking up after Pepper does her business on the sidewalk. Luckily we have those tidy little poop bags to help us out and keep the mess to a minimum. I realize that using an old newspaper is probably more eco friendly, and I may just switch to that, but as I was getting used to this dog walking concept, using the bags just seemed much less disgusting.
So I walked into the pet store and asked for biodegradable poop bags, and the clerk pointed me to some bags hanging in a display case. On the packaging, there was a picture of the earth with some recycling arrows around it and the words “earth friendly.” If I didn’t happen to be in the sustainability field, I might have taken this information at face value and bought the bags. But I didn’t recognize the symbol as representing a reputable eco-label and I looked further. Nowhere on the packaging did the product claim to be biodegradable, compostable, or made of renewable materials. In fact, the bags were, as far as I could tell, no different than any other plastic poop bag. But I’m sure the manufacturer fooled a few customers into believing their product was “greener” than the next. How is this possible?
It’s possible, because there is very little regulation around what companies can claim as “green,” “eco friendly,” or “earth friendly.” Not that there isn’t any regulation – in 1992 the Federal Trade Commission came out with the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims also known as the “Green Guide“. This regulation has been updated several times, and in October 2010 the FTC proposed major updates to this section of the Federal Register (the proposed updates have yet to be finalized). So this is all good, and the FTC has started to enforce these rules, but the rules are new, and in some cases unclear, and the door is still open for all the “greenwashers” and their claims for now.
So, as a consumer, knowing that the door is still open for marketers to make all kinds of green claims, how do you know what’s green? Well the first thing to know is that nothing is truly “green.” Everything we buy has some kind of environmental footprint. A product’s footprint is calculated using many factors: the material used to make it, the energy used to manufacture it, the gasoline used to transport it, the electricity needed to operate it, and the waste created when ultimatelydisposing of it. But a product can be “greener” than another. (The most environmentally friendly option is not to buy anything new at all and reuse what’s already out there!) So how do we know what’s “greener?” Currently, we at EcoPlum believe the best option is to buy products that have are made of recycled materials, have been certified green by independent organizations or that have earned a reputable eco-label.
Now, how do you know which Eco-Label is reputable? That’s the topic of Part II of this post. But, for now, here is a list of eco-labels we have found be run by independent non-profit or government third parties that appear to have no vested interest in the products or companies they certify.
[Note: the EcoPlum Online Boutique carries only eco friendly products that have been certified green, have a third party eco-label, or are made of recycled/upcycled materials.]
Gia is the President and CEO of EcoPlum, Where it Pays to Buy Green®. EcoPlum is the green shopping rewards site with eco friendly products and green living ideas that makes it fun, easy and rewarding to go green. Under its loyalty program, buying green at EcoPlum online earns EcoChipz rewards points, good for coupons in its shop or donations to environmental causes.
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May 9, 2012 | Categories: eco, Hospitals, lifestyle, manufacturing, organic, recycling, sustainability | Tags: eco friendly, ecoplum, Gia Machlin, green guide, Green Living, green shopping, recycle, Recycling, Sustainability, sustainable, triple pundit | Leave A Comment »
As you may know, MantraMeds scrubs are cut from a blend of Texas Organic Cotton & Repreve Recycled Polyester, which comes from recycled post-consumer plastics! Found a great website that can serve as an awesome resource for information and trends in recycling plastics. Check it out!
http://plasticsmakeitpossible.com/
Nearly all Americans have access to a plastics recycling program, which means you and your family can likely help the environment by recycling lots of everyday plastics around your home. You’ve heard it before: every day is Earth Day—so it’s time to recycle every day.
Many community recycling programs are accepting more and more plastics*—and you may be surprised to learn how many types of plastic packaging can be recycled into new, useful products!
- Beverage bottles made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic are collected in most curbside programs. This plastic is often melted, stretched into a fine thread, and then woven into soft, durable fabrics used to make things such as clothing, upholstery, and carpeting. (Tip: it’s okay to leave the caps on the bottles; they’ll be removed and processed separately at the recycling facility.)
- Detergent and cleaning product bottles are usually made with high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a strong, corrosion-resistant plastic. It is often recycled into outdoor furniture and other durable products such as plastic lumber, park benches, roadside curbs, truck cargo liners, trash receptacles—and new bottles. (Tip: rinse your bottles with water before tossing them in the recycling bin to remove remnants of the detergent or cleaning product.)
- Plastic bags are often made with HDPE or low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic. These bags are collected at many chain grocery stores and large retailers, including Target, Walmart and Lowe’s. Plastic bags generally are recycled into plastic lumber for decks, fences and furniture – and into new plastic bags. (Tip: before recycling bags, be sure they are free of food remnants, and remove any zipper closures. Plastic wraps from drycleaners, newspapers, and many consumer products can be collected with plastic bags.)
- Plastic containers for products such as yogurt, cottage cheese, and margarine are now collected in many curbside programs. They are often made with polypropylene (PP) plastic that is recycled into things such as battery cables, landscape borders, cafeteria trays, and furniture. (Tip: some grocery store chains [e.g., Whole Foods] also collect these containers).
- Plastic foam used to make packaging often is made with polystyrene (PS) plastic that has been expanded with air. Innovative recycling programs can turn foam packaging into insulation, picture frames, building products—and new packaging. (Tip: some shipping companies, such as UPS, accept polystyrene foam packing peanuts for re-use.)
When you consider all the different types of new products that can be made with post-consumer plastics, it’s easy to see why they are such valuable materials. Getting the whole family involved in collecting plastics around the house is a great way to make sure this resource doesn’t go to waste. So recycle these and other everyday products—every day.
* Recycling programs differ greatly; check to see what can be recycled in your community.
Check out these other great articles by Plastics Make it Possible:
- America Recycles Day: Get Inspired to Recycle More of Your Everyday Plastics!
- Celebrate Earth Day – Recycle!
- Great Recycling Tips For Earth Day
- Products Made with Recycled Plastics: Give Your Home a Green Makeover
- Recycle… Your Carpeting?
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May 7, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, organic, recycling, scrubs, sustainability | Tags: Mantra, mantrameds, Organic cotton, Plastic, plastics make it possible, polyester, recycle, recycled plastic, Repreve | Leave A Comment »
MantraMeds scrubs AND Earthspun Apparel tees are made from a blend of cotton & recycled polyester that comes from recycled plastic or rPET.
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May 4, 2012 | Categories: eco, manufacturing, recycling, sustainability | Tags: earth 911, earth911, grocery bag, how plastic bags get recycled, Plastic, plastic bag, recycle, recycled, Recycling | Leave A Comment »
MantraMeds & Earthspun Apparel had a wonderful day at MUSC’s Earth Day festival! Here are some pictures of other vendors who were there with us.
MantraMeds Sustainable Medical Apparel & Earthspun Apparel tees
MUSC Earth Day festival
Wonderful coordinator for the event
Delicious asparagus
Had a great talk w/ these guys about Earthspun Apparel's spinner in Kings Mountain who uses solar panels
The local animal shelter brought around some adorable kittens and dogs.
Yoga House - new studio in Charleston
Massage therapy
We even had some live music
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April 13, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, organic, recycling, scrubs, sustainability | Tags: Earth Day, Earthspun, Earthspun Apparel, go green, Mantra, mantrameds, medical university of south carolina, MUSC, MUSC go green, recycle, Recycling, Sustainability, Yoga | Leave A Comment »
Party for the Planet | April 4, 2012
Party for the Planet was a huge success! Earthspun Apparel & MantraMeds had a booth right between Joy the Elephant, the Tortoises & the Giraffes! Tons of local businesses showed up to share their green initiatives. City of Greenville Recycling had green Silly Bands and face painting. We highly recommend the Greenville Zoo as a destination point this spring & summer! Zoo Camp 2012 is all abount Animal Mythbusters. What a great way for your kids to spend their summer! Go to http://www.greenvillezoo.com/zoocamp.aspx to find out more.
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April 5, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, organic, recycling, sustainability | Tags: city of greenville, Earthspun, Earthspun Apparel, green, greenville zoo, Mantra, mantrameds, party, party for the planet, recycle, Recycling, scrubs, Sustainability, sustainable, zoo | Leave A Comment »
Come see Earthspun Apparel tomorrow at Party for the Planet @ the Greenville Zoo. Ask us about our kewl 100% Recycled Tees
Party for the Planet | April 4, 2012
This is a very special day! The Greenville Zoo will host conservation and civic groups, offering ideas on how to help animals and how to make our world a better place to live. Join the fun with hands on activities at various booths.
Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
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April 3, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, recycling, sustainability | Tags: Earthspun, Earthspun Apparel, greenville zoo, party for the planet, recycle, recycled, T-shirt, tee | Leave A Comment »
Clemson pictures a green world:
Sustainable art exhibition encourages recycling materials.
Find original article here: http://thetigernews.com/news.php?aid=7639&sid=1
by KATE RIPLEY
This article originally appeared in The Tiger on March 30, 2012 |
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Where does recycling go after it’s thrown into the bin? On Thursday, April 5, recycled cans, newspaper and bottles will reappear in the form of artistic masterpieces at the Picture Green 2012 Sustainable Art Exhibition. Local and student artists will showcase artwork made with a sustainable or nature theme and made from recycled materials.
From 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. in the Hendrix Center’s David Peebles Room, students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to check out artwork crafted from everyday materials, like soda cans, milk bottles, metal tins and more. Works include life-size sculptures, paintings, jewelry and musical instruments, all made by local and student artists.
A judge from The Arts Center, a local, nonprofit community arts center in Clemson devoted to making art education accessible to the community, will critique the works. The first-place winner will receive a generous gift certificate to a local art supply store, and second- and third-place artists will win Solid Green gift packages. Attendees can enter a raffle to win hand-crafted jewelry made from natural and precious stones.
Participants will not be selling their work during the exhibition; however, attendees can make arrangements to sell their pieces at a later time. The idea of Picture Green started in 2009 when Julia Fielding, a former Clemson undergraduate and MBA student, met with her professors to create a sustainable event for the arts. In past years, professors and other speakers were asked to present talks concerning “green” issues such as renewable energy, sustainable business development and green building. Films promoting and discussing sustainable topics were also screened in McKissick Theater.
This year, Picture Green will be associated with the nationwide recycling competition RecycleMania. Clemson Recycling Services will celebrate the University’s results and hope to inspire more Tigers to reduce their impact on society. RecycleMania has been a success this year, as Recycling Services has promoted the competition through various service events and activities. These events include the No Impact Man screening in McKissick Theatre followed by a discussion on sustainability. Various student groups also volunteered to perform a waste audit on a few buildings on campus.
Julie Conard, a senior architecture major and art minor, is excited to be a participant in the exhibition.
“So many of our art and design projects are about issues of sustainability,” Conard said. “I am excited to participate in RecycleMania’s art show because it not only gives me the chance to show my work publicly, but it also allows us as artists to partner with SolidGreen, who are working to achieve the vision of our pieces.”
For more information, visit the Clemson Recycles Facebook page or http://www.clemson.edu/facilities/recycling.
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April 2, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, recycling, sustainability | Tags: art, art exhibit, Clemson, david peebles, exhibition, hendrix, julia fielding, kate ripley, picture green, recycle, recycled, Sustainability, sustainable, sustainable art, tiger | 1 Comment »
A BIG thank you to TOWN magazine for featuring Earthspun Apparel in their latest issue!
By TOWN Staff
MARCH 29, 2012
Drink in these hip tees made of recycled bottles
Bottles have an extended shelf life—a closet shelf. Greenville-based Earthspun Apparel found a way to make t-shirts from high-quality, ring-spun yarns produced with recycled polyester fibers, made from plastic bottles, discarded X-Ray film, and recycled cotton, to produce 100-percent-recycled apparel.
The green, brown, blue, and grey shirt colors are the actual bottle colors, not dyes, and include Soda Pop Green, Beer Bottle Brown, Water Bottle Blue, and X-Ray Grey. A black tee made from recycled food trays will be available soon.
To start the process, plastic bottles recycled by consumers are brought to local recycling centers and sorted by color. The bottles are converted into fibers that are blended with recycled cotton and spun into yarn used to create the t-shirt fabric, which feels soft and natural. One Earthspun t-shirt saves about six plastic bottles from the landfill.
The t-shirts are made of 65-percent-recycled polyester and 35-percent-recycled cotton. “Sustainability is important to us, and the ability to eliminate production steps and use waste to create our t-shirts saves energy, conserves natural resources, and diverts waste from landfills,” says Earthspun partner Jerry Wheeler. We’ll drink to that. More information at earthspunapparel.com
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April 2, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, recycling, sustainability | Tags: beer bottle brown, Earthspun, Earthspun Apparel, jerry wheeler, Pet, Plastic, recycle, recycled, recycled bottle, recycled pet, recycled polyester, RPET, soda pop green, Sustainability, T-shirt, tee, tee shirt, TOWN, town carolina, water bottle blue, x-ray grey | Leave A Comment »
Jack Miller and Marshall Johnson are at Carolina Recycling Association‘s “Recycling On The Rise” trade show at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC this week.
Jack Miller giving a reporter the low-down on these zero impact tees!
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March 22, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, organic, recycling, sustainability | Tags: carolina recycling association, cra, Earthspun, Earthspun Apparel, grove park inn, jack miller., marshall johnson, recycle, recycled, recycling on the rise, shirt, T-shirt, tee, tshirt | Leave A Comment »
CRA’s 22nd Annual Conference and Trade Show
“Recycling on the Rise”
March 19-23, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC
The CRA is pleased to present our 22nd Annual Conference and Trade Show “Recycling on the Rise” to be held March 19-23, 2012 at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. You will find this theme throughout the conference program, as we explore new strategies, new materials, new opportunities and new horizons.
Join us for the Southeast’s premier recycling conference at the hotel that defined Southern Hospitality.
Earthspun Apparel will be at Recycling on the Rise in Asheville this week. Stop in and see our kewl recycled tees!
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March 20, 2012 | Categories: eco, lifestyle, manufacturing, recycling, sustainability | Tags: asheville, carolina recycling association, cra, Earthspun, Earthspun Apparel, ecoville, green, grove park inn, recycle, recycled, recycling on the rise, Sustainability, sustainable, T-shirt, tee, tee shirt, tshirt | Leave A Comment »
