Got2BeGreen

Sprig Toys: Boost Creativity & Reduce Footprint

2009-07-05T16:32:16Z

Rally Racer with Adventure Guide Rudi Tootin, Sprig Toys Adventure Series

A new toy company is seeking to combat the world of automated toys with its kid-operated, earth-friendly products. Sprig Toys, a company based in Colorado with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe, makes toys for preschoolers that require more activity from children than the typical electronic toy. Lights and sounds on their trucks and adventure vehicles operate when a child pushes or pumps the toys. These battery-free toys are made from Sprigwood^TM, a bio-composite material made from recycled wood and reclaimed plastic.

Sprig Toys offers three series of toys: Adventure Series, Sprig Hollow, and Eco-Trucks. The Adventure Series includes three adventure vehicles, each with its own Adventure Guide, and two additional Adventure Guides. The Sprig Hollow series includes a Sand Truck, HeliScoopter, Barn, Sand Tools, Garden Pot, real wildflower seeds, and the Dragonfly, Bee, and Butterfly characters. Three Eco-Trucks are sold: Dump Truck, Excavator, and Loader. Prices range from $12.99 for an individual Adventure Guide to $59.99 for the Discover Rig. All Eco-Trucks are only $14.99.

Photo credit: Sprig Toys, Inc.

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Ecologic Reserves: Petty Island and Delta del Orinoco

2009-07-04T00:33:17Z

The Venezuelan State and UNESCO contribute with biodiversity preservation.

The oil company CITGO, property of the Venezuelan State, donated Petty island in the Delaware River, near Philadelphia, to the state of New Jersey. The announcement was made by president Hugo Chávez during the Cumbre de las Américas, celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago last April. The island and the infrastructure are worth approximately $20 million, and they will be conditioned as an ecologic reserve by governmental authorities. To convert a place that was used to process a high contaminating substance into an ecologic reserve is a remarkable fact, and it will bring great improvements. Venezuela is a main oil producing country, so it is nice to know that they are being environmentally responsible.

In other news, the MAB-UNESCO (Man and Biosphere program) incorporated the Venezuelan Delta del Orinoco to their World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The Delta is located in Venezuelan east geographical limits, and it has vast biodiversity in both sea and earth ecosystems, sheltering more than 2,l000 botanical species and rich fauna diversity. In addition, they considered the importance of the Warao culture, the who have lived in the region since ancient times. With this recognition Venezuelans hope the state will implement policies to protect the delta’s biodiversity, as well as the Warao people living there.

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Green Clothes: More than Organic Cotton

2009-07-04T00:09:23Z

Baby clothes at Kidsignments, a large consignment sale in Georgia

Parents of young children can save money and help the environment by shopping at consignment sales and stores. Twice a year in northeast Georgia consignment sales abound, selling cheap barely-used children’s clothes. This shouldn’t be surprising, since children, especially babies, grow so fast they may use an outfit only once. I’ve shopped at three sales so far and have been impressed by the quality, price, and selection of clothing, toys, books, furniture, and other paraphernalia. The sale volunteers are strict about accepting only clean and modern clothes. Some stained items seem to sneak through, so you should always check the clothing before purchase. I’ve bought shirts for $0.50-$2.00 and splurged on a $4.00 shirt. Pants and shorts have ranged from $1.00-$4.00. And last year I bought a winter coat for $8.00. The sales are held twice a year with clothing available for the upcoming two seasons. For example, this August I’ll be shopping for my child’s fall and winter clothes. Sales vary greatly in size from local church events to mega-sales held in large fairground or conference center buildings. I spend about $65-$85 dollars on clothes for two seasons for one child. And no one has a clue the clothes weren’t store-bought. Below is a list of a few sales in northeast Georgia, or check out The Bargain Watcher to search for a sale near you.

Consignment Sale	Location	When
Lollipop Kids Consignment Sale	Jefferson, GA	July 23-25, 2009
Kidsignments	Lawrenceville, GA	August 18-22, 2009
Cornerstone Church Kids Consignment Sale	Athens, GA	August 27-29, 2009
Kindermarket (YMCA)	Athens, GA	August-Email kidsale@charter.net for info

Photo credit: Kidsignments, Inc.

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Project YOOXYGEN - All Proceeds Donated to Green Cross International

2009-07-03T03:56:18Z

On June 30th, yoox.com launched their environmentally sustainable project YOOXYGEN. The number one virtual fashion and design boutique presented a special series of collections called “ever.green” - limited edition t-shirts for both men and women, designed by celebrities and produced by EDUN LIVE, part of the ethically aware clothing company, EDUN Apparel founded by Ali Hewson and her husband Bono in 2005.

Created by renowned celebrities, the 100% organic cotton t-shirts covering themes of design, music and fashion will be sold exclusively on yoox.com with all proceeds being donated to Green Cross International, an environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) founded by President Mikhail Gorbachev and partner of YOOXYGEN.

The first journey of the initiative is a t-shirt designed by Angela Lindvall, the American Supermodel noted for her green activities and her establishment of the non-profit organization the Collage Foundation. Lindvall’s t-shirt design is derived from her vision of the environment: “My shirt was created from the shadows of trees. Our shadow side is what sometimes pushes us to grow.”

In March 2007 EDUN launched the EDUN LIVE brand of blank tee shirts. The EDUN LIVE range enables EDUN to drive further trade into Africa through high volume sales direct to the wholesale market as well as the consumer. The tees are 100% African produced, from the fields where the cotton is picked, to the factory where the final garment is cut and sewn. To find out more about EDUN LIVE visit the site.

Photo Credit: David Mushegain

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NIKA - Eco Friendly Bottled Water

2009-07-01T02:16:44Z

NIKA water is an eco-friendly bottled water company that donates 100% of its profits to poverty alleviation and clean water and sanitation projects around the world.

While other bottled water companies are harangued for their damage to the environment, NIKA water is the only bottled water in U.S. that has been certified CarbonFree by CarbonFund.org.

In addition, NIKA water donates all of its profits to three world class Non-governmental Organizations (NGO’s): Free The Children, Millennium Promise and Project Concern International. So far NIKA has committed more than $300,000 in building schools and wells in four countries.

Entrepreneur Jeff Church, who was motivated to start NIKA water after hearing a presentation by Free the Children founder Craig Keilburger, said that if the bottled water company can capture just a tenth of a percent of the world’s bottled water industry and generate 20 cents per bottle in profit, that would translate to almost $2 million annually in contribution to clean water in impoverished countries.

In addition, NIKA fully supports youth empowerment and has created a unique program to provide teenagers the opportunity to take an active role in solving this crisis by helping to promote NIKA’s mission and NIKA water. Called Agents of Change, these young, inspired volunteers help spread the word about NIKA, the water and the cause to as many people as possible and convince them to buy NIKA water.