ECOSiZE Me

We're Back

We took a hiatus from our blog this month to focus on the holidays and spend time with family. In the process, we had some time to regroup and refocus. We hope that you will join us in the new year on our journey to be wise about our ecosize.

Green Gifting Part 1 - Ideas and a Sale!

From the Kids Konserve 2009 Holiday Gift Guide:

Put meaning in the greening this holiday season. Want to make this a truly eco-friendly holiday for your family and friends? The Kids Konserve gift guide features this season's best non-toxic and sustainable gifts.

Thinking about what to give the hostess of a party? Your child's teacher? A hairdresser? Neighbor? Whether you are the green guru of the house or you are struggling to find a gift for one, these are selections you can be proud to give:

1. Set of food grade leak-proof stainless steel containers.

2. Reusable party pack for the classroom. Take the trash out of the bash. 

3. Nesting Trio leak-proof containers. All the right sizes and easy to store.

4. Cotton napkins. Save a tree and use these at your family dinners.

5. Food kozies. A reusable wrap for just the right snacks. 

6. Waste-free lunch kit. Give a kid a kit.

7. Reusable Bottles. No liners and non-toxic.

8. Minis. Food grade stainless steel.

9. Drawstring bags. Great gift wrap. Great for on-the-go snacks or anytime bag.

10. Snack paks. Perfect for light lunches and on-the-go snacks.

11. Green cleaning. Greenwood Naturals. Biodegradable and non-toxic.

12. Insulated thermos. Going beyond the sandwich. Endless options.

WHO DOESN'T LOVE A SALE? Use the code "holidays" through December 31, 2009 and enjoy 15% off your order at Kids Konserve. Great ideas + great price = a green holiday.

Green Giveaway

Thank you for the comments on Our Favorite Green Things Giveaway. And, congratulations to Lori S., who is the winner of the set of 3 mini stainless steel food containers by Kids Konserve.

Ecostore USA Newsletter - Always worth the time to read

They are one of our favorite green things and we've blogged about them before. Ecostore USA's November newsletter is available here and it's always worth the time to read. Here at Ecosize Me, we believe in making a positive impact on our environment and we fancy those around us that believe the same. So this holiday weekend, kick back, read their newsletter, check out their site and be thankful for all that we have.

You won't want to miss their Share the Love:Holiday Sale. These items make great green holiday gifts. Turn your family and friends on to ecostore USA's plant and mineral based products and feel good that you are doing something especially green this holiday season.

Let the Children Write It

The students at my children's elementary school participated in a fabulous and creative project that will count as one of the activities to continue their Michigan Green School status this year. The Green Committee initiated a letter-writing campaign to various toy manufacturers on the subject of over-packaged toys. Commitee members went into each classroom, grades 1st - 5th, and conducted a powerpoint presentation on toy over-packaging. Topics included why toys are packaged the way they are; the resources used to make the packaging; how much packaging ends up in landfills and finally brainstorming on how toy packaging can be more eco-friendly. The most rewarding topic for me personally, was getting the kids to understand that they do indeed have a voice. And, that the top-dogs at toy companies are in fact interested in what they have to say. It's called purchasing-power and we all possess it at ANY age. The kids truly felt empowered.

The project was a great way to blend curriculum with a worthwhile green initiative. At the time of this post, the children are finishing up and submitting their letters. The Green committee will sort the letters by toy-maker and send them out collectively and to the respective companies.

Not only did this project gain the support of the teachers and staff, the students were excited and it was of interest to the local news media. These students are expecting that all their efforts will solicit a response from some of their favorite toy-makers. Now, it's up to you Hasbro, Mattel, Spin Master, Lego, Sony/Playstation and Nintendo/DS to listen carefully to what this generation is saying...because they do indeed have alot of good things to say.

You can view the news article here:  http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2009/11/15/news/srv0000006820691.txt

The Voice: Higgins School Gets Greener

Thanks to Nicole Tuttle of The Voice for a well written article promoting Higgins Elementary in Chesterfield and all their green school efforts. She also does a nice job capturing some of the highlights of our "It's Good to be Green" program. You can read the article here.

Favorite Green Things Giveaway

The Kids Konserve team is sponsoring the first green giveaway on Ecosize Me. One winner will receive this set of 3 mini food grade stainless steel containers. This perfect size fits more than you think!  

Leave us a comment letting us know how you are going to be green this holiday season. One winner will be randomly chosen on November 30th.

Kids Konserve is offering all our readers a 15% coupon valid until November 30th. Enter coupon code: ecosize.

America Recycles Day--Recycling Is Good

November 15th is an annual, nationally recognized day to promote and encourage Americans to increase recycling at home and at work and to buy products made with recycled materials. Take a look, take a step and make a difference. http://www.americarecyclesday.org

Recycling is good...

• Recycling 1 aluminum can saves enough energy to run a computer for 3 hours.
• Recycling 1 glass bottle saves enough energy to to power a 100-watt lightbulb for 4 hours.
• Recycling a stack of newspaper 3 feet tall saves 1 tree.

Ziploc Evolve: 25% Less Plastic But Still 75% Wrong

Have you heard of Ziploc Evolve plastic storage bags? They claim to be better for the environment.

• Made with a new resin blend, Ziploc Evolve uses 25% less plastic. (But remember 100% of plastic still comes from limited, finite and non-renewable resources (petroleum).
• Made using approximately 50% wind energy (for Ziploc Evolve manufacturing facility).
• Packaged in 100% recycled paperboard, using 35% post-consumer content.

Ziploc's efforts are 25% in the right direction but still fall 75% short on the environment. 

Why is it that Ziploc only makes the "Evolve" line "better" for the environment. Can we therefore say that their other products are "worse" for the environment? "Evolve" bags may be "better"...until they hit the landfill. Then they are the same as any other plastic storage bag. If Ziploc is truly concerned about the environment, wouldn't they make all of their products using the new, "better" for the environment formula?

Want a better choice all together? Then choose to reuse and ditch the disposable. Reusable food storage containers and reusable snack and sandwich bags are the eco-friendly way to go.

Eek-O-Friendly Costume Collection

Now that the ghosts and goblins have packed it up for another year, the Green School Committee at my children's elemetary school is collecting previously loved and gently-used costumes. They are planning for a costume resale event next fall. The main purpose of the event is to reuse and exchange costumes among the school community. This is just one way in which the parents are changing the culture of the school to make it greener.

The idea for the event was borrored from a neighboring school within our district that has several reuse/resale events planned throughout the year. Exchanges of ideas such as these are facilitated by a district-wide group made up of parents, teachers, administrators, etc.

Every school within the District of the City of Royal Oak is a designated "Michigan Green School". This program has been the catalyst for many positive social and environmental improvements and the subsequent greening of our schools' cultures.

And to think...it all starts with one idea, one small step and the desire to make a difference.