Another Limited Rebellion

Recyled Plastic Laptop Sleeve

Just had to show off my lovely new custom laptop sleeve made from fused plastic bags by Bekah Worley. Not only is her work both beautiful and environmentally friendly, but it's really affordable too! Check out her blog Recycling Is Rad and see more of her stuff for sale on her Etsy page.

Labels: bags, computers, plastic, recycling, shopping

Cancer Bottles

In a bit of very sad irony the "Breast Cancer Awareness Bottle" (shown left) currently being sold in the U.S. is made of #7 polycarbonate plastic that contains Bisphenol-A (BPA) which the National Toxicology Program has found to be cancer causing in large doses. While the US Food and Drug Administration has said that the link between BPA and cancer "cannot be proven", the material has already been banned in Canada. Indeed the company that manufactures the bottles has responded to questions about the material by saying that a non-BPA version will be available in 6-8 months, since they would like to sell them in Canada!

If you have bottles marked with a 7 it is suggested that you do not refill/reuse the bottles since that allows the material to more easily transfer toxins to the liquid within. There is a good overview of BPA on Wikipedia HERE.

Thanks to my cousin, a breast cancer survivor, who did the research on this and passed the information along!

Labels: cancer, health, plastic, shopping

Brita Filter Recycling Campaign

Beth Terry has started a grassroots campaign on her Fake Plastic Fish blog to encourage Brita, the popular water filter manufacturer (owned by Clorox), to take back and recycle their used filters. Get the details and find out how to get involved HERE.

Thanks Jessica!

Labels: campaign, plastic, recycling, water

News Roundup

Some more recent articles worth reading in the Christian Science Monitor:

New Alternative Fuel: Chocolate!

Is Bioplastic a Viable Alternative to "Paper or Plastic"?

Person-To-Person Lending: Internet Based Microloans Helping Internationally.

Labels: activism, environment, fuel, money, plastic

News Roundup

Sorry for the long quiet from me, I've got a bunch to post and hope to be updating more frequently in the coming weeks. First off some news clippings I've been collecting...

From the Christian Science Monitor:

Ethiopians tradmarking coffee to ensure Fair Trade.

Eating "green" at environmentally friendly restaurants.

Study finds White House manipulated climate science.

Africa begins banning plastic bags.

Labels: africa, environment, food, government, green, news, plastic

Target to stop selling some PVC

Target stores recently announced that they will reduce the amount of PVC they sell, specifically in their own line products (including toys, baby products, shower curtains and packaging). Read the press release from the Center for Health Environment and Justice HERE. It includes this explanation of why PVC is worth avoiding:

Among the health effects of phthalates, found in many PVC products, are premature birth delivery, early puberty in girls, impaired sperm quality and sperm damage in men, genital defects and reduced testosterone production in boys.

“Study after study have found that chemicals in vinyl can cause health problems in children and adults," said Dr. Peter Orris, Professor and Chief of Service at the University of Illinois Medical Center Chicago. "While using PVC products, people may be exposed toxic additives like phthalates and lead and when incinerated, PVC is a major contributor to dioxin.”

The hazards of PVC are not limited to its use by consumers: it creates toxic pollution during its manufacture, harming workers and community members near PVC plants such as in Mossville, Louisiana. When thrown away, toxic additives like lead and phthalates can leach into the ground and nearby drinking water sources. When burned in incinerators, PVC produces dioxins and furans, chemicals that can cause cancer and are considered to be among the most toxic environmental contaminants known to man. PVC packaging can not be effectively recycled, and can contaminate an entire batch of 100,000 recyclable bottles.

Labels: corporations, health, plastic

News Roundup

Getting caught up here from a very busy spell, I have lots to post, plus it's Blog Action Day so definitely want to get some environmental links out there. Here's a smattering to start you off...