Environment Philippines

Green Frog E-Busses Now Servicing Commuters in Makati

2013-04-24T16:12:00.003+08:00

Green Frog Zero Emissions Transport (GFZET) has launched the first fleet of hybrid diesel-electric buses in the Philippines this April. Their environment friendly e-buses run from Kalayaan Avenue down to Sen Gil Puyat Avenue, and provide commuters with a healthier riding experience.

Each e-bus is equipped with an electric motor powered by lithium ion batteries. This, combined with the much greener Euro IV diesel allows this bus to be more than twice as fuel efficient as the regular buses plowing the street of Makati. Regular buses typically the most toxic Euro I diesel.

A Green Frog bus can fit a maximum of 48 people, including those that are standing. The bus has a retractable ramp for convenient persons with disability (PWD) access. It also has six closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) cameras installed to ensure the safety of its passengers. All videos will be accessible via the Green Frog headquarters for up to the minute monitoring.

Another distinct feature of these buses is that they are all manned by lady drivers. Moreover, all the women drivers are paid fixed wages. This means they don't need to cut other buses to jostle for position, clog up bus stops and cause traffic, or stop and non-designated sections of road and highway, just to get more passengers. In other words, the follow traffic rules and stop only at official bus stops.

Other high-tech features of these buses include a cashless tap card system, for additional passenger security and convenience. Buses have fire extinguishers for emergency use, and global positioning system (GPS) trackers to ensure they drivers don't over speed or clump together. Oh, and they have luggage racks too!

Air pollution is one of the biggest problems the Philippines is facing today, especially for urban hubs like Makati, with its commuting population of over four million people per day. Hopefully, Green Frog can help solve this problem.

All photos from the GFZET Facebook page.

Affordable Bamboo Housing by H&P Architects Floats on Water

2013-04-19T11:14:00.001+08:00

H&P Architects has developed a solution to the destruction of homes in Vietnam's flood-stricken regions by designing low-cost houses that float on water.

A single home will cost an estimated $2,000 and can fit around 6-8 persons comfortably. Its structural design is so simple that it can be assembled on-site. It was also designed to work well anywhere in Southeast Asia.

Environment-friendliness and sustainability were factored into the home's design, starting with the re-used oil barrels used to keep it afloat. Meanwhile, anchors and ties keep the home from flowing with the current, while still allowing up and down movement during floods. In case of floods, the home is also equipped with a rainwater harvesting system.

The home's bamboo structure allows wind to enter during sunny days--through its triangular shutters--while keeping its occupants dry when it rains. Bamboo is one of the most renewable yet durable wood resources in Asia. The home is also equipped with bamboo plant holders where flowers and vegetables can be grown.

Beautiful and functional, H&P Architects' bamboo houses are a great housing solution in flood-prone areas in Southeast Asia, and I hope that the Philippines will invest in this green architecture. Take a look at the bamboo house's components below:

All photos from 1. More info from 2.

Energizer Night Race Manila 2013 Invites Filipinos to Race for a Brighter Worldd

2013-04-18T16:55:00.000+08:00

The Energizer Night Race 2013 will be held at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on May 4.

Organized in partnership with GMA 7 and Schick, the race will have two legs: 5-kilometers (P700 registration fee) and 10-kilometers (P800 registration fee).

Those interested can register at the following locations:

Brooks @ SM North Edsa
Runnr @ Bonifacio High STreet
Toby's Sports @ EDSA Shangri-La, Glorietta, and SM Mall of Asia.

Registration runs from April 3-30. Each participant, aside from being allowed to join the race, will receive an Energizer headlight, Energizer cap, singlet, neon fabric paint pen, race bib, route map, and Schick razor.

The Energizer Night Race for a Brighter World seeks to donate 13 million hours of solar-powered light to communities across the globe that don't have access to electricity, this 2013.

To make this possible, the company has partnered with One Million Lights, a global organization that seeks to provide safe and rechargeable solar lights to impoverished communities around the world. These communities still used kerosene lamps, which are fire hazards and pollutants.

For more information, please visit the race's official Facebook page and website. You can also watch its 2013 official video below:

National Geographic Earth Day Run 2013 at the Bonifacio Global City

2013-04-10T14:41:00.000+08:00

National Geographic Channel's Earth Day Run for 2013 will be held at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Philippines on April 28. There will be four legs for the race: 3k, 5k, 10k, 21k, with an entrance fee of P500, P600, P700, and P900, respectively.

All profits from the race will go to the World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) Agroforestry Program in the Sierra Madre.The 300-hectare forest, watershed, and wildlife sanctuary is the biggest old-growth forest left in the Philippines. In addition to making a donation to the fund, runners will each get three trees planted in their name.

Nat Geo's run tagline 'Let's make it a good run,' is "good" on two levels: runners get to stay fit, while helping the environment at the same time.

Online registration runs until April 21, at the Nat Geo Earth Day Run Website. All major credit cards are accepted. Meanwhile, cash registration runs until April 24, at the ground-floor of Greenbelt 3 mall, Makati (in front of the Asics store). All payments are non-refundable nor transferable, plus runners are not allowed to switch categories (e.g. from 3k to 5k).

Race kits for those who registered online will be delivered in 5 to10 working days. Runners who order online will pay a courier charge of P125 (within Metro Manila) and P185 (outside Metro Manila).

Please visit the Nat Geo Run website for more information.

Edgy Veggy Delivers Vegetarian Meals to Your Doorstep

2013-04-02T10:57:00.000+08:00

Are you tired of living the vegetarian lifestyle in Metro Manila because veggies are too difficult to find or too expensive? Is eating veggies getting you weak or even fat?

Lucky for you there's Edgy Veggy, a vegetarian cafe with delivery service. Founded by Denise Celdran in 2006, Edgy Veggy grew from a food stall at the Legazpi Sunday Market, to a cafe located at the ground floor of #3 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig. It's in the same building as the co-working space co.lab and the yoga study center Urban Ashram.

What makes this vegetarian cafe so special? Firstly, they deliver. That's vegetarian food delivered to your doorstep from Monday to Saturday, in Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Ortigas, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City. No need to use transportation fare or gasoline to drive to the nearest vegetarian restaurant. Eating green is now greener than ever.

Edgy Veggy doesn't deliver just any food, their vegetarian dishes are delicious, healthy, and fresh. They serve a variety of food as well: burgers, panini, pasta, rice meals, risoto, soups, salads, and appetizers--all vegetarian. You can view their cafe menu here. They also have a family style menu, for orders that are good for two to three people.

The delivery minimum is P500, so it's probably best to order as a group or for several meals (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner). Orders must be placed before 4:00 p.m., to prepare for next day delivery. That means no deliveries within the day.

According to their official website: "The underlying philosophy of EDGY VEGGY is LOVING KINDNESS. Be kind to the planet, be kind to animals and be kind to YOURSELF and OTHERS.

So be a happy vegetarian and order away!

All photos taken from Edgy Veggy website and Facebook page.

Lagu Beach Towels: Save the Sand, Save the Beach, Get a Tan

2013-03-25T12:06:00.000+08:00

Did you know that our Philippine beaches are running out of sand? Approximately 155 tons of sand are lost in the last decade due to soil erosion in local beaches like Boracay. Imagine what Boracay would be without its pristine cool white sand.

Infographic from Lagu

Luckily, a local company has found a solution to this problem. They claim that their product, Lagu Beach Towels, is the world's first environment friendly beach towel. These sand repelling, quick dry, allergen free are made from a unique blend of linen that sand doesn't stick to.

Lagu Towels are priced a P999 each and come in no packaging. Just roll it up and bring it to the beach. It also comes in bright colors to complement your summer look. And look, beach goers worldwide are already using it.

Before going to the beach this Holy Week, think twice before using just any ordinary beach towel. You may be taking the sand away from your favorite beaches unintentionally, but you are still unintentionally contributing to soil erosion.

Use Lagu Beach Towels, and you can save the sand, save, the beach, and get a tan, all at the same time. You can buy Lagu Towels online at Zalora and have it delivered to your doorstep in 1-3 days (for Metro Manila) and 5-7 days (outside Metro Manila).

You can also visit Lagu's official website, for more information on the beach-saving towel.

*All photos from Lagu Singapore's FB page.

Loudbasstard All-Natural Sound Amplifiers: For the Love of Music

2013-03-19T18:10:00.002+08:00

Launched in October 2012, Loudbasstard is a Cebu-based company dedicated to creating products, "which spread and share the love of music." Their first product is a personal sound amplifier made from bamboo and rattan, for smartphones and mp3 players with built-in speakers.

Every color and every unit is handcrafted, so no two amplifiers look exactly alike

A greener alternative to the electric speaker, it's bamboo/rattan shell amplifies volume, while its shape focuses sound. Perfect for listening indoors an outdoors, on your own or among friends.

For the love of music, and the environment!

Their product is a merger between "evolving technology, industrial design, and sustainability by catering to a modern design conscious demand." The Basstard went through extensive product research and testing, until the perfect balance between environment friendly design and sound quality was achieved.

Enjoy lower electric bills, and help the environment

A process was used to ensure the quality of these amplifiers. Each unit is:

organically treated to prevent bores
cured to attain there right moisture level for the Philippine's tropical climate
hand cut, hand dyed, and packaged in-house, in Cebu.

Here's a video explaining the process:

The sound amplifier comes in eight different colors: natural, charcoal, whitewash, emerald, teal, bordeaux, teak, and red. You can buy your very own Basstard for only P995, online at My Marquee.

You can also visit the Loudbasstard official website, Facebook page,and Twitter page for more information. All photos and video copyright of Loudbasstard.

The Spark Project Brings Crowdfunding to the Philippines

2013-02-28T15:25:00.002+08:00

What's Your Spark Project?

The Spark Project Launch from Nikki Jurado on Vimeo.
Are you a Filipino with a great idea, who lacks the funds to make it a reality? Are you a philanthropist who is searching for a worthy cause to support?

The Spark Project, the latest Filipino crowdfunding website, makes it easy for Filipinos to get funding for their ideas, and for people worldwide to support causes they believe in.

From left: Ian Corpuz, Patch Dulay, and Krz Lopez

Founders Patch Dulay, Ian Corpuz, and Krz Lopez, and believe in Filipinos and their ability to do awesome things. They are saddened by the reality that there are few platforms by which Filipino stat-ups can funding for their projects

Thus,they leveraged the Internet and the power of crowdsourcing--to fuel sparks of passion that can become flames of hope and livelihood for Filipinos. Now, let's find out how The Spark Project works:

Is Yours the Next Spark Project?

Click on the "create" button, and answer a few questions about your project. This will help the team get to know your and your project. Then, you will get feedback on your project and whether or not it is ready to be crowdfunded.

A minimum fund target will be required for the project to take flight, but it can very well exceed the funding goal. Running the campaign is free, but a 4-9% per Peso will be collected on top of Paypal fees, for operational expenses.

Fund the Next Spark Project!

It's easy to fund a project (or more!) that you are interested in. First you have to choose a reward. Take the Lagon Custom Guitars project for example. You can give:

P100 donation in exchange for a Facebook "Thank You,"
P500 to get a special guitar pick,
P5,000 for a free one-night stay in Iloilo (to visit the guitar plant), or
P50,000 for a signature Lagon Guitar made from bamboo and with mother of pearl inlay.

Once you have decided on the amount you wish to donate, you can do so via credit card or bank deposit. International donors can donate via Paypal.

Lagon Guitars (for crowdfunding) from Lagon Guitars on Vimeo.
Right now, the Lagom Custom Guitars project looks really interesting. I just donated P500 for the project.

Do visit The Spark Project for more information on how you can get funding for your project or fund that of someone else.

Photos taken from 1 and 2.

WWF Philippines, AppLabs Digital Studios Launch EnviroPop App

2013-02-20T11:39:00.002+08:00

Word Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF Philippines) and AppLabs Digital Studios Inc. recently launched a new smartphone app.

EnviroPop is a puzzle game similar to Bubble Pop that allows players to rescue endangered sea creatures from a variety of sea hazards common in the Philippines. These include dynamite, see trawls, cyanide, plastic bottles, oil barrels, and more!

Play to save the following sea denizens: the butanding (whale shark), leopard coral grouper, dugong (sea cow), dolphin, pawikan (sea turtle), and clown fish. The game also features Chi-Chi the Panda, official mascot and logo inspiration of the WWF.

Aside from being addictively fun, EnviroPop will teach gamers, especially the young ones, about the plight of our seas, the creatures that live there, and what they can do to save them. Lots of information can be found in the game's Enviropedia.

An iOS version is already available, while the Androd version is in the works. You can play the lite version for free or pay only $0.99 for the full version. All earnings will go towards WWF Philippines' marine conservation programs worldwide.

You can download the game from the Apple App Store, and soon on Google Play.

For more information, visit the EnviroPop website.

Everyday Green Living at SESOU Nature Source

2013-02-19T11:27:00.002+08:00

If you are looking for a shop in Manila that sells affordable eco-friendly cosmetics, wellness, and personal care products, why not try SESOU Nature Source?

Founded in 2007, SESOU now has eight branches. It has branches in Alabang Town Center, Glorietta 3, Market Market, TriNoma, Robinsons Magnolia, Festival Supermall Alabang, and Robinsons Place Manila.

Its Market Market branch won the Ayala Merchant Award for Most Promising Retailer in 2009.

Buying and living green has never been this easy.

Moreover, all products on sale are chemical-free and Philippine-made. They are placed in recycled, recyclable, or refillable packaging -- making them environmental through and through.

This company envisions itself to be a one-stop nature source for Filipinos. Thus, it offers products not just for adults, but also for babies and even pets.

For more information you can visit Sesou Nature Source's Facebook page.

Envirosax: the Favorite Eco Bag of Celebrity Moms

2013-02-10T15:54:00.001+08:00

Envirosax was among the eco-friendly products I featured on my Zalora Philippines blog post last week. However, the once sentence description I gave about the brand doesn't nearly do justice to its rich history, influence, and impact on our world today.

Envirosax ads

The Australian eco fashion brand was founded by Belinda and Mark David-Tooze in 2001. Proving that they walk the talk when it comes to environmentalism, the husband and wife live with their three children in a home powered by photovoltaic cells.

Envirosax for kids

Their hot water is provided by solar power. To read more about their sustainable lifestyle, visit their About Us page.

Jessica Alba with her Envirosax bag

The Envirosax team creates reusable tote bags with reinforced seams, which they promote as a viable alternative to regular plastic shopping bags. They manufacture their bags using mostly recycled materials and under ecologically sustainable processes.

Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake with their Envirosax Bags

Unlike other so-called eco-bags, Envirosax bags are high quality. They can hold up to 44 pounds of groceries (and other things) and are fully washable. This means their beautiful and vibrant designs won't fade over time. These are bags you can depend on and won't be ashamed to bring around in public.

Naomi Watts with her Sesame Street Envirosax Bag

More than just helping the environment with their products, the team also donates a portion of its profits to two charities: the Australian Maritime Conservation Society and the Surfrider Foundation, both advocating the protection of the world's oceans.

Sarah Jessica-Parker with her Envirosax Bag

Buyers can choose among the different series of Envirosax bags: Graphic, Slingsax, Minisax, Organic, Kids, Exlusives, Green Grocer, and more. They even sell DIY sets, aqua bottles, and shower timers (so you don't waste water while taking a shower!)

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck use Envirosax

Numerous high profile personalities have been spotted using these bags and now the brand is available in the Philippines too. For more information, please visit the Envirosax website.

Photo Credits:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

Zalora Philippines Sells Products from Eco Fashion Brands

2013-02-01T16:54:00.002+08:00

If you live in the Philippines and love fashion then surely you have heard of ZALORA. Always up to date with the latest fashion trends here and abroad, ZALORA Philippines offers a variety of products from top fashion brands.

Zalora Philippines Homepage

Searching for a product on the website is convenient with categories (shoes, clothing, accessories, etc.) located above the fold, and an intuitive search bar that predicts what you are searching for (think Google!) as you type it in.

Tribu Sandal

ZALORA is more than just a hub for any fashion products. It has a selection of eco-friendly products as well. In my previous posts I wrote about Tribu sandals, a footwear brand whose soles are made from upcycled scrap tires. I also mentioned Civic Duty sneakers, made of Tyvek, a waterproof and tear-proof material made from recycled plastic.

Civic Duty Sneaker

Next is a brand co-owned by my friend Noreen Bautista—Jacinto & Lirio—a line of bags made from water hyacinth leather. It also sells journals with covers made from water lily leather, collectively known as Kwaderno.

Jacinto & Liro Marcela Bag

They also sell Envirosax, a brand of reusable bags that promotes environment with style. Also among the green products I have yet to feature on my blog are:

Envirosax Bag

Hudson Baby – an infant clothing line with baby clothes made from 100% organic cotton;

Hudson Baby Blanket

Ysabel’s Daughter: Bath and Body – a company that sells Philippine-made all natural wellness products;

Ysabel's Daughter Body Wash

Paper Thinks – A line of bags and accessories made from 100% recycled leather, as well as notebooks with leather covers and 50% recycled paper;

Paperthinks Notebook

Bamboo Dappy – an soft organic biodegradable cloth diaper made from bamboo fibers.

Bamboo Dappy

Kor Hydration Vessels – BPA-free tumblers made from Eastman Tritan, which is fully recyclable; and

KOR Hydration Vessel

Mighty Wallets – a foreign brand of wallets made from Tyvek.

Mighty Wallet

Hopefully, Zalora will continue to support green products in the future. Perhaps they could even hold a special sale or create a separate category for environment-friendly products, especially those made in the Philippines.

If you are searching for affordable fashion products by leading local and international brands, specifically those making an extra effort to be eco-friendly, then you will definitely find what you are looking for at Zalora Philippines.

Sand and Snow Art by Four Eco-Friendly Landscape Artists

2013-01-30T13:48:00.001+08:00

What do artists Tony Plant, Jim Denevan, and Andreas Amador have in common? They use sticks and rakes to create sand art on scenic beaches. These work are striking because of their beauty and ephemeral nature. While taking hours to make, these sand art wash away with the incoming tide.

Sand Art by Tony Plant

Sand Art by Jim Denevan

This kind of landscape art is also environmentally friendly because very little materials are used in their crafting. These artworks have caught the eye of the public. Tony Plant's artworks have been featured in a music video, while Andreas Amore has been consigned to create wedding proposal sand art several times.

Sand Art by Jim Denevan

Sand Art by Andres Amador

In addition to sand art, we also have artists like Sonja Hinrichsen who create snow art. Only the snow artist doesn't use a rake--only her two feet.

Snow Art by Sonja Hinrichsen

Snow Circles from Beauregard, Steamboat Aerials on Vimeo.

For more information, visit Colossal: Art and Visual Ingenuity, where all photographs and information were sourced from.

Six environmental projects make it to Project Pagsulong's top 10

2013-01-23T18:27:00.000+08:00

Project Pagsulong is a youth challenge to help alleviate poverty. The competition invites Filipinos 18 to 30 years old to form teams of three to five. Groups are tasked to think of business solutions that can realistically reduce poverty in the Philippines.

The winning group will receive P1 million as seed money to develop their business as well as coaching and mentoring to help them succeed.

Project Pagsulong is now down to its top 10 entries, many of which are ideas for environmental poverty-alleviating initiatives. Judges will determine the overall contest winner, but a special award will also be given to the group that receives the most votes.

The environment related contest finalists are as follows:

1. The Golden Cast

The Golden Cast, by Leyte's Agri-EntrePINOYS seeks to use the vermicomposting method of producing fertilizer to improve the produce yield of local farmers and provide an alternative source of livelihood for the locals. Using this natural method of making fertilizer reduces the damage caused by artificial fertilizers on human, animal, and plant life.

2. Vermicompost

Another vermicomposting project, aptly called Vermicompost, is based in Benguet. As with the previous project, this one seeks to be a livelihood program, while at the same time lessening soil depletion, air pollution, and agricultural waste.

Vermicomposting involves using earthworms to decompose organic wastes and transform these into organic fertilizers. These fertilizers are then used for organic farming.

3. Byaheng Bayani

Byaheng Bayani Tours and Travel is a project that aims to provide tour and activity packages that are environmentally friendly and socially conscious. It involves getting people immersed with helping organizations like Gawad Kalinga, Save Ifugao Terraces, and Habitat for Humanity. And also--bike riding!

4. Bahay Kubo Organics

Meanwhile, Bahay Kubo Organics is an initiative to promote urban aquaponic farming as an economical solution for environmental degradation in the county's urban centers. Aquaponics is a farming system that allows one to grow plants without any soil, which is perfect in cities where open garden space is a luxury and soil continues losing is nutrients.

5. Kabaong Para sa Kalikasan

Team KKK's project is Kabaong Para Sa Kalikasan, which is basically manufacturing caskets with outdated phone books as the primary material. Coco fiber, chicken wire, and scrap fabrics, serve as secondary materials. When put together, these upcycled "trash" are transformed into sturdy beautiful caskets that are significantly cheaper yet remain indistinguishable from the regular wooden casket.

6. Power Mussels

And last but not the least, Power Mussels, is an initiative to transform tahong or mussel shells into a stronger and lighter version of the hollow block. Through a process called 'green construction' these discarded materials are upcycled into 'power mussels,' will also allow farmers to earn money from red tide mussels, that are no longer fit for human consumption.

For more information, and to vote for your favorites, please visit the Project Pagsulong official website.

Photo Credits:
1, 2

Climate Ride bikers ride for environment, bike related causes

2013-01-15T00:10:00.000+08:00

Climate Ride is a nonprofit organization whose mission it is "to inspire and empower citizens to work toward a new energy future." It uses "sport as a means to change lives and build an effective, citizen-based sustainability movement."

Based in the United States of America (USA), the group was formed by bikers Geraldine Carter and Caeli Quinn in 2008. A year later, they were joined by Blake Holiday, who is now the group's bike director.

Climate Ride co-founders Geraldine Carter (left) and Caeli Quinn

Together the trio, transformed Climate Ride in to an organization that increases awareness of and raises funds for bike and environment related causes. It also brings together bikers from all walks of live, who believe that bikes are excellent modes of green transportation.

Climate Ride bikers at the finish line in Washington, D.C.

Yearly, the group holds two week-long biking events. Climate Ride NYC-DC is a bike ride from Manhattan, New York to Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Climate Ride California starts by the California Redwoods and ends in San Francisco.

In addition, to the seven-day biking trip, participating bikers get to listen to talks on environmental topics such as sustainability, energy, and the green economy--during each night of the ride--in what is called The Expert Speaker Series.

Listen to this video where some participants share the reason why they ride:

And, here's a short inspirational clip where Climate Ride co-founder Geraldine Carter talks about how the organization was formed:

Want to ride for the planet and learn more about this biking organization? Then do visit the Climate Ride's official website.

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, and 4

Uniqlo, top global fashion brands, join Greenpeace's Detox program

2013-01-09T22:08:00.001+08:00

Uniqlo, Japan's no.1 casual wear brand, has joined top global fashion brands like Zara, Mango, Esprit, and Levi's, in eliminating the release of chemical waste during the manufacturing of their clothing and apparel.

Read more about the Greenpeace campaign to Detox Zara.

Meanwhile, Victoria's Secret, GAP, and Calvin Klein have yet to react to pressure from activists and environmentalists around the world.

According to Greenpeace, Earth Hour ambassador and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) partner Miranda Kerr is reconsidering her contract with Victoria's Secret after learning about the harmful chemicals used in making their clothes.

A message from Greenpeace:

Every time you like, share, comment on, or promote this video, it increases the pressure on these companies to change their ways: to stop poisoning rivers in the countries where their products are made, and to stop shipping hazardous chemicals all over the world in their clothes.

A toxic-free world is possible. Together we can help create it.

Zuellig Building first in Philippines to Pre-Receive Gold LEED Certification

2013-01-08T21:15:00.002+08:00

Zuellig Building, one of the latest structures to rise in the Makati Central Business District, was built with the environment in mind.

In fact, while it was still under construction, the building was certified gold for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Zuellig is the first building in the Philippines to receive such a distinction. Truly, and achievement for Philippine architecture.

There are four levels of LEED certification: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum, and the Zuellig Building earned its gold certification by meeting certain environmental parameters:

its curtain glass wall design allows 90 percent of sunlight to enter the building, while reducing the need for air conditioning at the same time
its water recycling system and low plumbing fixtures are designed to cut water consumption by 70 percent
its lights that turn off when rooms are unoccupied and dim when there is abundant sunlight, likewise contribute to energy savings
moreover, an air filtration system helps maintain healthy fresh air indoors

More recently, the LEED certified building was recognized as one of the three "Best Office and Business Development" buildings in the prestigious MIPIM Asia Awards.

The Zuellig Building is located at the corner of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas. For more information visit the Zuellig Building's official website.

Photo Credits: 1, 2.

Siklo Pilipinas upcycles scrap tires to make active lifestyle apparel

2013-01-06T15:25:00.000+08:00

Siklo Pilipinas, owned and managed by Lyndon Ecuacion and Clarise de Villa-Ecuacion, is an upcycling enterprise in Manila, Philippines. The company is known for manufacturing and selling bags, belts, pouches, wristbands, and other clothing accessories, made from assorted tire materials.

Upcycling is a method of re-purposing discarded materials (trash) as raw materials for new products, which can be sold again. Siklo took advantage of the opportunity to transform discarded tires into products that could be used by those who frequent the outdoors and those who have an active lifestyle.

In addition to helping the environment, Siklo also provides jobs for the unemployed. Thus, the company helps promote an eco-ethical lifestyle among Filipinos.

For more information, please e-mail siklo_pilipinas@yahoo.com, or get in touch with Clarise at 0922-2395319.

Artists for Nature organizes art music festival fundraiser for Save Philippine Seas' Pawikan Watchers project

2012-12-11T23:25:00.000+08:00

Artists for Nature, an organization that organizes art exhibit fundraisers for various environmental projects, is organizing an art and music festival entitled End Danger for the benefit of Save Philippine Seas' Pawikan Watchers training program.

The exhibit will be launched on January 19, 2013, with a night of performances from local bands Flying Ipis, Extrapolation, and Peso Movement. The launch will be held at Conspiracy Garden Cafe, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, and will begin at 5 p.m.

Buy your tickets at only P120 and enjoy free beer!

For those who can't make it to opening night, you can still view the exhibit until February 8, 2013.

To buy opening night tickets or for more information, please call Wendi Garcia at 0916 2742859 or email her at artistsfornature@gmail.com. You can also like Artists for Nature on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Tribu Upcycled Footwear, environment friendly sandals for the outdoors

2012-11-29T09:09:00.000+08:00

Tribu, a Philippine adventure and lifestyle brand founded by Jason and Renan Luengo in 1995, launched a new line of environment-friendly footwear as part of its project, Tribu Sole Initiative: Upcycled.

Tribu at Mara's Organic Sunday Market at Dasmarinas Village, Makati City, Philippines

Upcycling is the process of using trash and discarded materials to create something completely usable again. In this case, Tribu handcrafts soles from discarded tires, and transforms them into sandals perfect for rugged, outdoor use.

An upcycled Tribu Sandal

By Upcycling discarded tires, the company helps reduce the number estimated 242 million tires thrown in landfills each year globally. In the Philippines, the number is pegged at 11 million yearly. In fact, two pairs of Tribu sandals are equivalent to one upcycled tire.

The above sandal's sole, clearly made from upcycled tire

For more information you can visit Tribu on its official website and on Facebook, where all the photos were sourced from. You can also view this short video clip showing how Tribu's upcycled sandals are made:

Edible flowers, organic produce, and more, at the Got Heart Shop, White Plains, Katipunan

2012-11-23T13:40:00.000+08:00

Got Heart Foundation, which seeks to "empower marginalized members of the Filipino nation by developing entrepreneurs," opened the Got Heart Shop along White Plains, Katipunan, Quezon City, on November 11, 2012.

The Got Heart Shop made from a refurbished container van and recycled materials

The shop/farmers market/art gallery sells organically grown vegetables and sustainably made products manufactured by marginalized Filipino communities. For example, they sell rice grown by Aeta communities, fruits grown by Tarlac farmers, items hand-sewn by mothers, jewelry crafted by T'boli artisans, eco bags and t-shirts made by out-of-school youth, and many more.

A peek inside the Got Heart Shop

And yes, they do sell edible flowers, in a variety of colors!

Edible flowers

This is another concrete step towards fulfilling the foundation's vision to celebrate "SHInDIGs or sustainable, holistically-developed, independent, and dignified communities." The shop opening also coincides with Got Heart Foundation's 5th anniversary, on November 18.

Also interesting is that the Got Heart Shop is actually made from nontraditional building materials. It is made from a refurbished container van combined with various recycled materials.

The Got Heart Shop is open daily.

In 2011, the Got Heart Foundation won the Zonta Award for Poverty Alleviation 2011 at The Outstanding Philippines Organic Agriculturists (TOPOA) Awards.

For more information, visit the Got Heart Facebook page, where all the photos were sourced from as well.

Subic Bay toxic waste dupming confirmed by Philippine Senate

2012-11-22T16:47:00.000+08:00

The Philippine Senate, through an inquiry led by known pro-environment Senator Loren Legarda, have confirmed that a US Navy contractor dumped 440,000 liters of waste that was beyond the allowable limit 15 miles off the coast of Subic Bay last October 15, 2012.

The ship that dumped toxic waste in Subic Bay

Subic Bay Ecology Center manager Angel Bagaloyos, who conducted the tests, presented quantitative results proving that the waste was indeed toxic and beyond limits set by Philippine law:

Biological Oxygen Demand was 750 mg/L, way above the allowable 30 mg/L
Chemical Oxygen Demand was 1,485 mg/L. way above the allowable 69 mg/L
Oil and Grease from the ship's kitchens was 30 mg/L, above the standard of 5 mg/L
And total Suspended Solids were 252 mg/L, above the standard of 50mg/L

Groups protest against the dumping of toxic waste in Subic Bay

However, Glenn Defense Marine Asia (the US Navy contractor) Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga insisted that the collection of samples was improperly done. He also stated that he had a permit to dump the waste, and that he did so beyond the 12 nautical mile distance stated by law.

Unfortunately Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Carcia and Coast Guard OIC Luis Tuazon Jr both said the dumped waste was untreated and that no discharge permit was given to Glenn Defense Marine Asia.

Senator Loren Legarda

Senator Legarda and Senator Ping Lacson both said that the contractor should have ensured the waste it was carrying wasn't toxic before dumping it in the Philippine waters. Lacson suggested they should have conducted their own toxicity tests, while Legarda said that someone should be answerable for the dumping of waste.

Legarda's committee is set to release a report on this issue by the end of November 2012.

Photo Credits: 1, 2, and 3.

Greenpeace calls on Zara, top fashion brands, to detox its clothing

2012-11-22T14:56:00.000+08:00

"How toxic are your clothes?" is not a question you get asked every day. However, environmental organization Greenpeace dares to ask the question.

In a report entitled Toxic Threads: The big fashion stitch-up, Greenpeace reports how Zara and other leading fashion brands like Levis, Tommy Hilfiger, Mango and Calvin Klein, manufacture and sell clothes that contain toxic chemicals.

Greenpeace activists invade Zara headquarters

In fact, they found harmful substances in 89 out of 114 garments they tested. Nonylfenolethoxylates (NFE), commonly used to fix color in clothing, was the main substance tested for.

Greenpeace activists protest outside a Zara outlet

According to the organization, this substance causes hormonal disruption, enters the water system when clothes are laundered. Moreover, the substance cannot be removed by drinking water companies, through current purification or distillation processes.

Detox Zara ad1

ZARA, one of the world's leading clothing manufacturers, was found to have the highest concentration of NFEs in its clothing. Greenpeace, in its blog said:

Detox Zara ad 2

"We demand brands eliminate releases of hazardous chemicals into the environment and products. The best way to do this is to replace them with safer alternatives. And to show that they mean it, they must be transparent and disclose what each of their suppliers are releasing into our environment from their facilities."

However, brands such as Zara remain silent. Thus, the Detox Zara campaign was launched.

Since 2011, the Detox campaign has been highly successful in convincing clothing brands like H&M, Adidas, Nike, Puma, and Marks & Spencer to review their manufacturing cycle and stop the use of toxic substances in making clothes.

For more comprehensive information, please the Greenpeace Detox Campaign page.

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Nescafe pursues sustainable packaging efforts for jars, sachets

2012-11-09T17:26:00.000+08:00

Nescafe is the number one coffee brand in the world. According to its website, an amazing 4,600 cups of Nescafe coffee are drank every second worldwide.

Things like product packaging may be of little concern to small companies, but not to this coffee giant. To address this, the company is investing 500 million Swiss francs (CHF) in various projects from 2011 to 2020. Part of this funding goes to Beyond the cup: the Nescafe plan

Two of these projects, developing sustainable packaging for their coffee sachets and jars, have already resulted in initial successes for the company.

Nescafe starts using stick packs instead of square sachets

As single-serve packaging, square shaped Nescafe sachets contribute to over a thousand tonnes of packaging material used globally each year.

Nescafe has managed to reduce the amount of packaging used by 27 percent, truly a significant figure, given the scale. The solution was using a stick pack instead of the traditional square one. Nescafe sticks use much less materials, while still maintaining the coffee freshness Nescafe drinkers have grown to love.

Nescafe redesigns glass jars, innovates the way jars are made

Meanwhile, the glass used to create glass Nescafe coffee jars was another concern the company wanted to solve. Nescafe, aside from using recycled glass, opted to use less glass as well.

They did this by innovating the design of their jars. Sharp edges were replaced by smooth edges and weight distribution was improved, leading to less glass requirements to make each Nescafe jar. Moreover, the company managed to lessen the weight of its jar cap and streamline its design, so that less plastic is used for making the caps.

This innovation was also a huge success. In Japan, from 2004 to 2008, Nescafe was able to save a total of 7,672 tonnes of glass, equivalent to 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Approximately, this is the amount of carbon dioxide 1,300 cars produce in a year. Moreover, 200,000 cubic meters of water, enough to supply 3,000 people for an entire year, were saved.

To learn more about how Nescafe is protecting tomorrow's world, visit their official website, where all the information in this post was sourced from.

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Green Fins Philippines Puerto Galera project lauded by Reef World Foundation

2012-11-08T17:14:00.001+08:00

Green Fins Philippines was launched in 2004 with this goal: "to protect and conserve coral reefs by establishing and implementing environmentally friendly guidelines to promote a sustainable diving tourism industry."

Green Fins Philippines logo

Since then, the group has been successful in getting many divers to follow their Code of Conduct seen in the video below:

Green Fins is has been introduced in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Anilao, Batangas; Moal Boal, Cebu, Mactan Island, Cebu, and El Nido, Palawan, so far. By the end of 2012, they hope to enter Malapascua, Cebu as well.

The Green Fins project was initiated by the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) in order to promote the conservation of coral reefs and the observation of sustainable tourism practices.

Reef-World Foundation Manager Chloe Hunt speaks at the CECAM Symposium

The project's successes in Puerto Galera are currently being presented in Manila through the Coastal Ecosystem Conservation and Adaptive Management (CECAM) Symposium. Reef-World Foundation Manager Chloe Hunt presented the assessment data during the symposium.

Based in the United Kingdom, Reef-World Foundation is a charity that works toward the conservation of coral reefs in Southeast Asia. It has been helping the world's center for biodiversity for over a decade.

For more information on Green Fins Philippines, visit their official website and Facebook page.

Photo credits: 1.