recycled tp~ what’s that all about?

Did you know that most toilet paper is made from the virgin pulp of old growth trees?  Ecologically valuable forests full of old growth trees are being cut down so that we can have soft and lovely paper to wipe our tushes with.  Not only are ancient trees being destroyed, but massive amounts of chlorine are also used to achieve the pearly white color that we’ve come to expect when buying toilet tissue.

‘Ancient forests are the planet’s old-growth and original forests. The world’s ancient forests maintain environmental systems that are essential for life on Earth. They influence weather by controlling rainfall and evaporation of water from soil. They help stabilize the world’s climate by storing large amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change. These forests also are home to around two-thirds of the world’s land-based species of plants and animals.’  This site will educate you on where these forests are and why they are essential to our planet’s health. They also offer ways to get actively involved.
I found this article that lists brands of toilet tissue that have a nice percentage of post consumer recycled content.  Recycled doesn’t mean tough and horrible. We made the switch over a year ago, after learning about this issue and we haven’t missed the bleached white stuff one bit.  The two things to look for when buying eco friendly bathroom tissue are 1) a post consumer recycled content of at least 40% and 2) chlorine free processing, labeled as (pcf or ecf).

Rebloged from: http://blog.ecoetsy.com/2011/02/recycled-tp-whats-that-all-about/html

The Bottlehood..the worst kept secret on Etsy

I have become a fan, addict and good customer of the folks at The Bottlehood....I want to let you in on the worst-kept secret on Etsy. Our cupboard is now home to wineglass tumblers and coke bottle juice glasses. Sturdy, pretty and interesting. Recycled glasses from wine, beer, soda and liquor bottles.  According to Bottlehood.com a glass bottle takes more than 4000 years to decompose in a landfill! I would much rather re-use if it can't be recycled. Glass will be with us for a while, so until there is an alterntive that isn't plastic...I am with the folks at Bottlehood::

On my table, a soda in a re-purposed wine bottle reflecting the winter sun!

Our juice glasses.....

BottleHood was founded by a couple of folks in San Diego who took their concerns for the environment and decided to “do” something about it. BottleHood is a collective team of neighborhood craftspeople (jeweler, weaver, graphic designer) who share an interest in today's environment.

BottleHood has taken a stand on keeping bottles which have no California Redemption Value (CRV) out of California’s landfills or sent overseas to be recycled.


It  is just really all about theneighborhood and helping extend the life of discarded glass.

Absolut Vodka bottle (now a vase)

All BottleHood glassware was created from wine, liquor, beer, soda and water bottles from local San Diego restaurants, bars and events.



No part of the bottle goes to waste....jewelry, beads, spoonrests,  etc.   etsy recycled glass jewelry and etsy BottleHood beads

TeamEcoEtsy

 I have been following Team EcoEtsy via the blog, twitter and facebook. Their blog is a cooperative effort of Team EcoEtsy members, providing eco-news, eco-tips, member features, eco-friendly creations, how-tos and EcoEtsy news! The eco-goodies are sold on Etsy.com, and can be found by doing a tag search for “TeamEcoEtsy".

Members of EcoEtsy work together to:

• Raise funds for non-profit organizations, through auctions, sales, etc.
• Find attractive ways to reuse packaging materials
• Find promotional materials that are Eco-friendly
• Promote Etsy through the creative reuse and labeling of packaging
• Actively participate in the Eco Etsy Yahoo group, and other web based groups for the team.
• Create a list of tips for sellers who want their shops to be more “green”
• Educate buyers and sellers on the importance of reuse

This is a group you should know about if you sell organic, support ecology, buy organic or are a resident of this planet.


To go straight from here to Eco Etsy, just click on the bird graphic over to the right.

Buy organic, fair trade, recycled – and handmade!