Reusable Moshi Neato Computer and Flat Screen TV Cleaning Kit Features Green Packaging

Two weeks ago, we reviewed a Non-Toxic, Biodegradable, NOT Natural CyberClean for Electronics. I was disappointed with this product for many reasons, but I mostly wanted something to clean my computer screen. I usually just use a microfiber cloth, but this often just moves the dust around. I discovered in Macworld the moshi neato Screen Cleaning Kit and had to try it.

neato provides a simple yet effective solution for display cleaning. neato does not require the use of any solvents that could potentially damage the screen's anti-reflective coating. Its effectiveness lies in the fact that Neato is comprised of Terahedron, known for its superior cleaning capabilities and microfiber filaments that will not scratch your display. The other component of neato is GeckoPad, a patented elastomer that can adhere to a wide variety of surfaces. Since GeckoPad is not a glue, neato can be attached and removed repeatedly without leaving any residue. This comes in handy for sticking neato to the sides or back of the display for convenient access. Both components of neato are hand-washable and renewable. With proper care, neato can be reused countless number of times, making it the most effective and eco-friendly screen cleaner on the market today.

The grey pad is used for wiping dust particles off your screen, then the black one removes smudges. The grey pad worked well, but the black one did not get all of the marks off of the screen, although it got the majority of them.

Moshi uses soy inks on its packaging and all of the materials are recyclable. It would be better if the packaging was made from recycled materials.

Green Party Solutions: Flings Pop-Up Recycling Container

Every year, we celebrate our children's birthdays with a party by the river. It is always a challenge finding a suitable container to haul the recycling back up from the beach. Brown bags tear, especially if a little liquid drips into them, and plastic trash bags don't hold their shape when heavy bottles and cans are thrown in. It's a little trail to the beach, so hauling a trash can down is not really an option when we are already schlepping so many other party goods. Flings Pop-Up Recycle Container offers a solution:

New Flings Pop-Up Bins make trash and recycling collection easier in your home, at events, or when you're on the go. Flings start out flat for easy storing and portability, and then pop up in a flash whenever and wherever you need them. The decorative patterns are attractive for all occasions and help signal where the trash and recycling are supposed to go. Who ever though that trash and recycling could be so easy -- or so much fun?

These bins cost about $4 a piece, and I like that they are clearly labeled for recycling.  They are made from "biodegradable and recycled materials".  I do not like that they are intended for single use, although I think you can get several uses out of them. Personally, we will probably stick to our milk crate solution to recycling at our outdoor parties. Once a few bottles and cans end up in the crate, people get the idea of where recyclables go.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

Recycled Cotton Farmer's Market Tote by Olive & Myrtle

Spring time means the return of The Farmer's Market. Of course, you wouldn't want to shop the market with those horrible plastic bags from the supermarket, and hopefully you don't have any in your home anyways from using reusable bags. Olive & Myrtle makes the perfect bag for your farmer's market or any shopping excursion.

Product Description Look fresh at the farmer's market with this large recycled cotton tote bag. Made from 100% post-industrial cotton scrap and printed with water-based inks. Exclusive design by San Francisco based Lab Partners

Features and Benefits
Made from 100% recycled cotton
Fair Wage and Fair Labor Certified
Printed with water-based inks
Durable construction, holds more than a full grocery bag.

I really love our Recycled Cotton Tote Bag and think recycled cotton is certainly an eco step above simply organically grown cotton.

Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products to review. No prior assurances were given as to whether the review be positive or negative.

Apple iPad: How Green is It?

We are big Mac fans here at Blogpire, and much of the environmental blog world has been a buzz asking the important question: How green is the new Apple iPad?

iPad embodies Apple's continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact: Arsenic-free display glass BFR-free Mercury-free LCD display PVC-free Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure

Shea Gunther at Mother Nature Network explains:

Apple has taken some lumps in the past, particularly from groups like Greenpeace, for using toxic substances like mercury and arsenic in their products. With e-waste being as big a problem as it is considering the huge number of products Apple and other tech companies produce every year, the decision to stop using these poisonous chemicals is a big one. The iPad (and nearly ever other electronic device) have a LONG way to go before they can truly be called green, but they're getting greener and greener every go around.

earth2tech gave the new iPad a grade of B, and during the iPad's announcement, Steve Jobs was sure to tout it's green features. According to Infoworld:

Another green bragging point: Apple claims that the device's specially designed lithium-polymer battery, combined with the energy efficiency of the iPad's A4 processor, means the system can run for 10 hours straight.

The iPad's form factor also contributes to its green credentials. It weighs a mere 1.5 pounds and is half an inch thick. Compare that to the bulkier devices it rivals -- say, a netbook -- and you can see the iPad contains fewer materials. Moreover, unlike a netbook, a keyboard isn't a necessity for the iPad, which means you won't have to invest in yet another hunk of plastic, metal, or the like. (That's not to say the iPad doesn't support a keyboard.)

Being the first to own the latest technology is definitely not green living, but at least consumers are faced more environmentally friendly options when making new purchases. 

Christmas Tree Recycling, Chipping and Composting

The coming of the New Year means it's time to take down the Christmas tree. If you chose to use a cut down tree, disposing of it ethically means making sure it doesn't end up in the landfill. Most towns have curbside programs where the trees are taken to a green waste facility where they are chipped into mulch or compost. Many communities are using disposed Christmas trees for great benefit. From electricity to wildlife restoration, christmastree.org features the following community programs:

Saving Lives with Vaccines - Toronto, Ontario

Wildlife Habitat - Porter County, Indiana

Mulch for Planting - Georgia

Dune Restoration - Gulf Shores, Alabama

Rebuilding the Louisiana Coastline - Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

Home for the Herons - Cook County, Illinois

Giving Back to the Community - San Diego, California

Improving Fishing Areas - Keene, New Hampshire

Building Better Parks - Clarksville, Tennessee

Fueling Our Nation's Industry - Tomahawk, Wisconsin

One Man's Trash is Another Fish's Habitat - Oroville, California

Keeping Communities Beautiful - Reno, Nevada

Turning Trees into Electricity

- Burlington, Vermont

One of my favorite Christmas tree recycling comes from Inhabitots, "Last year, even the Vatican went green by recycling the Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square by using its wood to make toys for children." What's your community doing with their left over Christmas trees?

Recycling Hair to Clean Up Oil Spills

Ever wonder what happens to all that hair on the floor after a haircut? Most salons simply throw it away, but Matter of Trust will turn shorn hair into mats used by volunteers for soaking up oil spills.

Here we look at fibers (hair, wool, fur, feathers...). Thousands of salons mail us hair clippings, swept up off their floors, and the fibers are woven into Oil Spill Hair Mats. We all know about shampooing our oily hair, but it took Phill McCrory, a stylist from Alabama, to realize that hair was also an efficient and abundant material for collecting and containing petroleum spills. Salons, barbers, pet groomers, wool farmers, individuals... SEE HOW YOU CAN DONATE HAIR and spread the word.

The mats can be wrung out of oil and reused up to 100 times.

Via: GreenBiz

12-Year-Old Boy Builds Recycled Shelter for Homeless

12-year-old Max Wallack has created a "Home Dome" from plastic, wire, and packing peanuts. The Home Dome is designed as a homeless shelter and was created for the show Design Squad's Trash to Treasure contest. Max won $10,000 and a Dell laptop for his invention. Max explained his inspiration:

When I was six. I won an invention contest that included a trip to Chicago. While there, I saw homeless people living on streets, and beneath highways and underpasses. I felt very sorry for these people, and ever since then, felt that my goal and obligation was to find a way to help them. My invention improves the living conditions for homeless people, refugees, or disaster victims by giving them easy-to-assemble shelter.

Via: Green Building Elements

Terracycle Upcycles Record Albums and Circuit Boards into Picture Frames, Coasters and Clocks

I love Terracycle, as they are really trying to take hard to recycle items and upcycle them into new products. The most recent products to come out in March feature record albums and circuit boards.

TerraCycle, Inc., the ultimate eco-friendly brand, is introducing the first nationally distributed product line made from upcycled vinyl records and circuit boards. These products are unique and environmentally responsible because they are made from materials that have been rescued from the world's waste stream and would have ended up in already overflowing landfills.

Technology progresses at an astounding rate and a trail of trash is close in tow. Every time consumers upgrade their PC, TV, stereo, or other electronics, they add to the colossal stream of e-waste. In 2005, Americans generated 2.6 million tons of e-waste according to the EPA1. Of this amount, only 12.6% was recycled. Continuing the Trash Revolution, TerraCycle reuses circuit boards to create new products.

With the prevalence of digital media and portable music players, (and CD's before that) vinyl records have truly fallen by the wayside. While serious collectors hang on to their vintage discs, the average person is disposing of the records that have been collecting dust in the attic.

These unique, upcycled products will retail at an affordable price of $12.95.

Upcycled Eco-Friendly Jewelry on Etsy by Squishy Sushi

I've discovered an affordable, unique eco-friendly jewelry maker on Etsy: Squishy Sushi.

My background is in graphic design but I have recently begun designing jewelry as well. All of my pieces have an asian flair to them and are made from recycled papers and other jewelry findings. As a graphic artist, I'm drawn to beautiful bits of printed material and enjoy mixing them with other media. All pieces are hand crafted by me in my studio, in San Francisco, California.

Squishy Sushi's unique pieces have an Asian influence are made from items such as magazines, dominos, and Scrabble pieces. I recently purchased a Recycled Scrabble pendant:

This scrabble pendant is made from a bit of recycled magazine. The pendant has been coated with a heat and water resistant 2-part resin for a high gloss shine and durability. The bail is silver plated. This pendant measures 3/4" by 1" including the bail.

At only $7.50, this pendant is certainly affordable, and I feel good about supporting an artisan on Etsy.

Looking for Eco-Friendly Holiday Cards: ReProduct Eliminates Waste

Founded on the principles of Cradle to Cradle design, as defined by William McDonough's book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, ReProduct has designed zero waste holiday cards. The cards come with their own prepaid envelope, so the receiver of the card can send it back to a recycling center, where it will be repurposed into carpet backing. You can even get photo cards from ReProduct. Nearly 7.5 billion greeting cards are sold in this US every year. If we could recycle all these cards, we would help close the loop.

Baby Earth Helps Parents Go Green With Baby

Baby Earth is more than just an eco-friendly online shopping site for young children. It is a resource for parents wishing to go green with baby! From blogs to ideas, such as throwing a green grandmother shower, this site has an impressive amount of information and products.

One of my favorite products is the Sassy Cuddle Doll.

Inspire baby's senses with the soft, aromatic cuddle doll. Doll is lightly scented with calming lavender to stimulate baby's sense of smell. Wooden rings softly clack together, while bright colors and textured fabrics including velour, corduroy, fleece and sateen offer visual and tactile stimulation.

When playtime is over, put the cuddle doll in baby's hands and encourage them to smell the soft lavender scent. Lavender is commonly used as an aid to sleep and relaxation.

Sassy Earth Brights are handcrafted from quality hardwoods, select fabrics and water-based finishes with packaging made from 100% recycled paperboard.

My niece has this doll and loves it! It is safe for the youngest child, even newborns. The only negative aspects of this product is it is made in China and contains polyester.

Baby Earth also hosts a baby gear recycling program called Baby RENEW. Just send your old car seat, stroller or high chair to Baby Earth, and they will disassemble it and send it to recycling centers. If the gear is still in good shape, it will be donated to a needy family.

Laptop Bags Made from Recycled Car Seats

Want to get into the recycled laptop bag game? We thought you did. These laptop bags from Be Good Designs are made from recycled car seats and armchairs. This helps to cut down on using toxic materials because Be Good Designs is using materials already in the environment. The scraps that are leftover from making the bags they use to create necklaces in an effort to have less waste leftover. The bags start at around $250.

Via SlashGear at Be Good Designs

Timbeland Tote Bag Made From Earthkeepers Billboards

Last fall, Timberland launched the Earthkeepers line of boots, made mostly with organic and recycled materials. To promote these rugged, durable eco-friendly boots, Timberland erected billboards in Boston and Providence. At the end of the campaign, the billboards were repurposed into tote bags, perfect for shopping or the beach. Just like the Earthkeepers boots, these bags are durable, yet lightweight. Each bag is unique and available for about $25 in Timberland retail stores.

Recycle Your Toothbrush

We've featured the Preserve Jr. Recycled Toothbrush on Really Natural before, specifically the parent company Recycline's efforts to support the National Wildlife Federation. Recently, while reading Z Recommends, I discovered that not only are Preserve toothbrushes made from recycled Stoneyfield yogurt containers, but you can return your old toothbrush to the company for further recycling.

The American Dental Association estimates that the average American replaces their toothbrush two times a year (RN note:  even though dentists recommend every three months). At these replacement rates, used toothbrushes account for approximately 50 million pounds of waste annually.

When you are ready to replace your Preserve toothbrush, simply print a postage-paid return label from the Recycline website, mail you old toothbrush in, and it will be ground up to make plastic lumber.