This design is an award winner from Japan’s Ryoji Takahashi that offers a new look and feel to shredding. The tube-like paper shredder can be held over a waste basket and is less obtrusive than the traditional rectangular electric paper shredder. Seems to be a desk-friendly redesign; now we have to wait until it comes to the States.
A shower in your pocket? A pontoon on your back? A fold away grill? Camping is a little more compact these days. These three designs make packing up your gear a little easier, and smaller, to boot.
Going back to school means a lot of people buying a whole lot of new things. Teachers, students, parents; we are all consumers. With so many designs keeping the environment in mind during planning and manufacture, it would be nice to see a few students sporting green with their back to school gear. Here are a few products to get you started.
Newton running shoes are more than just green. The shoes laces, webbing, insole top and outer sole rubber are made of recycled materials. And there is more; the package is made of the same post-consumer paper waste as egg cartons. And to get greener than green, the shoe is stuffed with a pair of new socks and a reusable bag to avoid useless tissue paper that would normally get tossed after opening.
Every new school year sees last year’s trends moved aside for the hottest new items. Well, try going green with this 100% recycled material backpack. The cost of the backpack even includes a donation to American Rainforests, so chances are you will be helping to add a tree or two for your money well spent.
Radiohead, noted to be one of the greenest bands out there has extended its line of apparel to raincoats. The nice thing about their designer coat (other than it is made for Radiohead) is that it took 15 recycled PETG bottles to create it. Look cool, feel cool and be cool with this post-consumer jacket this fall.
And speaking of rainy fall weather, if campus life has you traveling by foot from class to class, be sure to pack an umbrella. This umbrella has a canopy made of 100% recycled PETG bottles with a frame made of 70% recycled steel, aluminum and ABS plastics.
Pack up your pencils, pens and markers into this recycled supply pouch and feel good knowing that the world has one less tire in its landfills. And while you’re at it, stuff in the ruler made of, “read it together class: three plastic cups.”
Who goes to school without a notebook. If you are going to have to take notes, you might as well write onto something worth writing on. This recycled material notebook will have you daydreaming and doodling in no time, thanks to recycled juice cartons and plastic boxes.
Highlighters are a must for most note-takers and young scholars. Why not go green when you go yellow by using these Zebra-Eco highlighters made from 74% post-consumer waste. Go ahead, stuff it in that pouch you just read about.
Packing your lunch is a must for some students, by choice or necessity. Do it in style with this second-life juice pouch bag. This ECOutlet bag is made from materials once known as trash, but now known as green.
I would have to say the biggest complaint about going green, is all the green you spend in doing so. Although it can be costly to buy environmentally responsible products, sometimes I think it is worth it to do so, as with this computer. With an 80% smaller size, using 70% less energy and 75% less printed paperwork to go with it, this Dell desktop computer is definitely getting greener. You can even recycle 95% of the product after it becomes obsolete.
I can’t think of a better way to remind yourself to take off your shoes at the door than to have your slippers waiting for you when you get there. This slipper mat is a smart design, for sure.
Did you change out old bulbs with CLF’s or go digital with your photos? Making a camera planter or light bulb pot is a great way to find a second life for some old objects around the house.
What about those old books, ruined books, or doubles you may have stored around the house, in the garage or attic?
And those old vinyl records you can’t listen to anymore?
And, of course, there is always the option of trying to reuse the old phone booth lying around!
These bathroom tiles are a wonderful way to marry form and function. A pull-out drawer and a towel hook built into the tile is a simple, clever and ingenious use of space. Hideaway spaces always seem to work well in smaller areas like the kitchen and bathroom.
Travel friendly design has been extended to man’s best friend, thanks to the Travel-tainer. Conveniently compact and smart for travel, this container has pop-off water and food dishes with an air-tight container for dry pet food. I guess it could work with cereal and milk too, if you prefer.
This concept design is something that might possibly become a reality. Maptor is a combination projector and map with built-in GPS. The lanyard design makes it easy to wear around your neck, and when you are in the midst of indecision, the projected map can help guide you to where you want to be. I would love to have one of these, if they ever make it to market!
This may look like an electronics device, but it definitely isn’t. It is a wallet that secures your personal items from being compromised electronically. RFID theft, or radio frequency identity theft, can happen without you even knowing. This clamshell of a storage space blocks any person who may try to grab your information from the Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards in your purse or pocket. Now you can forget about hackers in crowds electronically taking what is your’s.
The new Xeros washing machine system uses about 1 cup of water, compared to the gallons we are accustomed to using for regular loads of laundry. Xeros technology uses reusable nylon polymer beads to agitate your clothes during the wash cycle; nylon polymer has an inherent polarity that attracts stains and can absorb them from slightly dampened garments using around a cup of water. What a great, eco-friendly design!
