an end to the junk

I don't know a single person who enjoys the afternoon trip to the mailbox, only to find it's full of grocery store coupons and "Don't miss this chance to consolidate your student loans." Junk mail is wasteful and, usually, pretty annoying. So, as I was checking my inbox this morning, I was especially happy to read my daily Ideal Bite:

GreenDime is a company who will go through the effort to call and email and write and call again, on your behalf, to keep your address off the junk mail lists. For a dime a day, GreenDime will stop the junk mail flowing into your mailbox, AND plant a tree! According to their estimates, 100 million trees are chopped down every year for junk mail sent in America.

I know I'm not alone in thanking this company for helping us make our lives full of a little LESS waste. Do you know of other companies with similar mantras? Let's hear 'em!

Sustainable Dancing

Sustainability is hitting a new level. First there was sustainable agriculture, then there was sustainable clothing, and now I am proud to announce we have sustainable dancing! 

A new club opened in the Netherlands called Sustainable Rotterdam.  It captures the energy of movement provided by dancers and uses that energy to power the lights and music.  The "greening" of the dance club will also be enhanced by walls that change color according to the heat generated in the room, toilets that will use rainwater, and biological beer (not sure what that means but it sounds healthy).

I love when we are able to convert the energy from an ordinary activity to energy used to make the world a better place. We have to get one of these clubs going in the US!

:read

green diapers...

And by green we mean, environmentally conscious, not the surprising colors little baby bodies can occasionally produce inside diapers. gDiapers is a company we've always loved and we were happy to see them at this year's Green Festival hosted this past weekend in San Francisco. So, what's so great about gDiapers?

They're flushable. Yes, this can take a bit of getting used to but considering how much waste is created with traditional disposable diapers, it's an idea that's ready for the mainstream. gDiapers are a two-part system comprised of a flushable inner refill which fits into a little reusable outer pant. When the diaper becomes soiled, you simply flush the inner pant down the toilet - no smell, no diaper bin, no guilt.  As gDiaper says, it's "fashion and function on one cute bum." Now that's an idea worth sharing.

zanzibar bans plastic bags

Zanzibar, more known for its idyllic beaches than its environmental progressiveness, has officially banned the import and production of plastic bags. Recognizing that discarded plastic bags damage marine environments as well as being eyesores, they've banned them in hopes of restoring the pristine island environment. It's a move both intended to enhance their natural environment as well as preserve their bustling tourism industry - the mainstay of Zanzibar's economy.

Such a move naturally comes with criticism, including skepticism on the ability to enforce the measure and whether the economy will be negatively affected by the ban. As an alternative, the government has suggested raffia bags. Rwanda is another country that has entirely banned the use of plastic bags.

If developing countries like these can take such progressive environmental measures, could they work in more advanced, richer countries like the US? Tell us what you think.

:via BBC