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A few months ago, I got a sample of the Kids Konserve lunch bag, gave it to my daughter, and wrote about it. My other daughter was furious that no company had sent me an eco-friendly lunch box for her to carry. Well, that's still true, but I've at least tracked down another option to write about, even if I can't make my daughter a tester.
The PlanetBox is a funky retro-looking stainless-steel lunch box. It's slightly bento-style in that it separates food into distinct, built-in compartments. Food goes directly into the box, eliminating the need for extra containers and packaging, and the raised lid lets you pile food into your box without smushing it.
You can optionally purchase two containers for storing dips and a carry bag that fits over the whole box. In addition, the box comes with one set of decorative magnets (retro kitty, rocket, and globe are the current choices) for the outside of the box.
By swapping out the magnets for new sets, you have a box that can keep up with your child's changing tastes (tastes! Ha!) and create less waste.
The box is dishwasher safe, lead and BPA-free. A complete set--which includes the box and magnets, two dipping containers, and a carry bag--is currently $56. Pricey, yes, but it's a one-time investment.
(Credit:
Milestone)
One major frustration for those of us who hold a combined love for yogurt and respect for the environment is the lack of recyclability of yogurt pots. Someone who eats one every day in their packed lunch will contribute more than 250 of them in a year to landfills, which are constantly expanding under the weight of our garbage, and in many cases, doing so unnecessarily.
Some companies, thank goodness, are diligently exploring ways that we can use everyday items, like these yogurt pots, that would otherwise end up spending several years in landfills.
This kitchen by Milestone is a prime example of this shift, boasting itself as the first kitchen to be made entirely out of recyclable materials. The cabinets are made from recycled yogurt pots, which give them an organic speckled look that reminds me of quail eggs. Each cabinet requires 700 pots to make, keeping three year's worth of lunchtime yogurt trash out of landfills. The worktops are also works of plastic art, constructed entirely out of post-consumer vending machine coffee cups, and the cabinets are partially made from recycled wood chips. Move to the sink and you'll find that's it's made from recycled steel, and is again recyclable after you're finished with it. Even the lighting is conservative, using only around 5 or 7 watts, depending on where they are located.
In an ideal world, we would be able to live comfortably without upsetting the natural balance of the earth, building houses without destroying fragile ecosystems, and using appliances that would be conservative in their energy use and made with biodegradable materials. The reality is that at this point, we are far removed from this sort of living. Instead, we have to search for opportunities to do what we can, when we can. And thankfully, companies like Milestone continue to innovate and make that possible.
Ah, school lunches. Brown bags, zip-top baggies, paper napkins, plastic water bottles--not the most environmentally friendly solution. And thankfully, companies are starting to realize that, and come up with innovative ideas. Like the Kids Konserve Waste-Free Lunch Kit, an eco-friendly yet stylish lunch bag that includes stainless steel containers, reusable sandwich wraps and cloth napkins--all made from the safest, nonleaching, bisphenol-A-free (BPA), lead-free, and phthalate-free materials.
The lunch kit comes with a stainless-steel beverage bottle you can fill with water or juice, 2 8-ounce stainless-steel containers with leakproof plastic lids, a reusable baggie for sandwiches, a cloth napkin, and a recycled aluminum name tag. And the entire kit is packaged in a recycled cotton canvas lunch sack.
An especially nice feature of the kit is the size of the containers--they're large enough to keep kids satisfied and small enough to ensure you won't overfill them and end up with lots of wasted food every day.
The reusable baggie, by the way, is not really a baggie. It's a square of a heavy plastic material that seals shut over your sandwich. Wipe it clean, and reuse it, day after day.
When the kit arrived at our house, my daughters fought over who would get to use it. I wouldn't recommend the kit for kids under about age 6--they might throw away the baggie or other parts--but my 8- and 10-year-old daughters are "totally into the environment" and think the kit is pretty cool. Order yours online at http://www.kidskonserve.com/.
(Credit:
Modern Mommy Gear)
Food storage bags have revolutionized how we store edibles for longer periods of time, divide bulk bags into healthy portions, and pack lunches for workdays. The problem is that we use millions of them every year, and many of them end up in oceans, rivers, and landfills. Since they're not biodegradable, they end up staying there for a long time.
I'm certainly guilty of using the bags: on any given day, I'll use at least one, whether it's in a packed lunch or to bag dinner leftovers. I try to limit my use of them, but when I do have to use them, this bag dryer will thankfully let me reuse them too.
The Bag-E-Wash is handmade in Canada, and dries up to eight bags at a time. After being washed with soap and water, the bags are dried on the rack, preparing them for their next use. This simple act could cumulatively do wonders for the environment: if you reuse your 25-pack of sandwich bags 5 times, you prevent 125 bags from going in the garbage, and save yourself the cost of 5 additional boxes of 25 bags.
Not a bad bargain for the $16 price tag, if you ask me.
(Credit:
West Elm)
The first time I walked into a West Elm store, I knew I would fall in love with it. The company focuses on organic housewares, both in design aesthetic and in the materials they use, and I got a good feeling when I looked around at the natural bamboo furniture and painted branches.
It's this kind of mindful design that is growing increasingly popular, as our concern for the planet waxes and our tastes for expensive luxuries from synthetic material correspondingly wanes. But the pieces that end up in stores like West Elm are no less beautiful than those made with less sustainable materials, making them appealing to a wider audience than to those who have been buying hemp clothing and biodegradable housewares all along.
You can check out these dishes on West Elm's Web site here.
(Credit:
Envirogadget)
Like many of my colleagues, I pack my lunch when I go to work. One thing that has always bothered me is the number of plastic bags that go to waste as a result. I try to reuse them as many times as possible, but I can't help but be bothered when I throw them away because I know that they'll end up in a landfill or in the ocean. What's worse is that the plastic utensils my work provides are just as bad at biodegrading as these plastic bags are. As of late, I'd like to use a reusable lunch box and utensils, but I don't always have the space in my bag for transporting them home. Thankfully, some designers have found a way to incorporate recyclable materials and multifunctional practicality into lunch packaging.
These Spoon & Box utensils and packaging--created by designers Won-Jae Lee, Jun-Yong Lee, Sang-Jun Hahn, Sun-Kyu Kim, and Yeo-Wool Kang--represent a true blend of convenience and environmental consciousness. Your lunch is carried in the cardboard box, and when you're ready to eat, you remove the perforated portions on the handle, and the removed pieces can be modified and used at eating utensils. When you're finished using them, they can be recycled along with your other cardboard recyclables.
OK, so maybe using cardboard utensils with spaghetti and meatballs may end up as a mushy paper mess: but the idea holds for dryer lunches, and could be used to handle simple lunch assembly tasks like stirring tuna with mustard for tuna salad or scooping beans, rice, or hummus. In any case, I'd feel better risking a soggy spoon than throwing another nonbiodegradable plastic bag.
The idea of recycling appeals to most of us, but it's not always easy to get from the idea to the reality. Set yourself up for success by making it as easy as possible to recycle things. The Twin Bin from Brabantia is a brilliant or matte stainless steel trash can that's split into two compartments: a 23-liter everyday bin, and a 10-liter area for compostable waste.
Keep your organic matter ready for easy composting without having to keep a second trash can in the kitchen with a single can that looks good enough to be on display.
The sturdy plastic base won't scratch or damage your floors, and the entire unit is easy to lift--even when full--and simple to clean. Ventilation holes in the larger unit let excess air escape and prevent a vacuum when removing the bin. If you want to take the idea of recycling and make it your reality, this trash can makes it easier.
I've thrown recyclables into the trash more than once: if I don't have a place to put a bottle separate from cans or newspapers, I don't want to worry about it. I certainly don't want to stick all of my recycling into just one bin. Sorting it back out again is time consuming, and can be a little gross. Ideally, I'd like to have three different recycling bins in my kitchen--but there's absolutely no room for them. However, the Three Section Recycle Bin provides a space-saving option that will fit in my kitchen.
The Three Section Recycle Bin contains three plastic buckets in a single stainless steel frame. Each bucket has a lid that corresponds to a foot pedal: all you have to do is step on the appropriate pedal (they're labeled for convenience) and drop your recyclables into the correct container. On trash day, you can easily pop out the three buckets and dispose of your already sorted recycling.
The Three Section Recycle Bin is 19 inches tall by 24 inches wide by 19 inches deep--not too much larger than your average trash can, but heavy enough that you don't have to worry about an eager pet tipping it over.
Typical order of operations for gathering recyclables: Place empty paper grocery bag next to trash can. Fill bag with paper, bottles, and cans, but procrastinate on carrying it to the building's recycling bin. Accidentally kick the overstuffed bag, spewing bottles and cans across the kitchen floor. Run through a full vocabulary of profanities while cleaning up the mess and grumpily taking recyclables downstairs. Repeat.
Typical order of operations with the Mode All-in-One Recycling System: Crush cans and plastic bottles in the mechanical compactor, which drops them into the 8-gallon bin. Add glass, metal, and other non-crushables via a bypass lid; place newspapers, magazines, and junk mail in the separate 5-gallon paper bin. When alerted by the Recycle Day Reminder, take the recyclables down to the building bin. Consult the Eco-Track system to see how much you've recycled. Feel smug.
I know which one I'd prefer. The Mode All-in-One Recycling System is made of stainless steel, includes a charcoal filter to reduce odors, and stands 30 inches tall. Priced from $250 to $300, it'll be available at the end of the month from Frontgate, Amazon, and other retailers.
via The Green Head
Festive colors adorn the Preserve line of kitchen products. With fun colors such as Milk White, Berry Blue, Apple Green, and Ripe Tomato, these items are sure to jazz up your kitchen. Turns out, while you're spicing up your kitchen, you're helping the environment too.
Recycline, as the name suggests, is a manufacturer that relies on Earth-friendly, recyclable materials. All of their Preserve products are made from 100 percent recycled plastics or 100 percent post-consumer paper. By using recycled materials, the company is helping to preserve natural resources and create an incentive for communities to recycle.
From simple beginnings in 1996 and with a toothbrush made from recycled plastic, Preserve has grown and expanded into the kitchen. Currently, beyond tableware and personal care items, (such as toothbrushes) they offer colanders, cutting boards and food storage bowls.
The 3.5-quart colanders are available in four colors, and are shaped in a familiar and useful double handle form with large holes for easy draining. The bowls are available in two sizes, are stackable, and feature screw top lids. Both the colanders and the bowls are dishwasher safe and made from 100 percent recycled plastic. They are even recyclable in communities with No. 5 recycling.
Two different types of cutting boards are available from the company, in either plastic or paper-based forms. The plastic cutting boards come in the four familiar colors and are dishwasher safe. The other cutting boards are made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper into Forest Stewardship Council certified Paperstone. Available in Olive Black or Pesto Green, the cutting boards offer two stylish choices that won't hurt your knives--or the environment.
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