Paper Mate Biodegradable Pens and Mechanical Pencils

I just got back from a walk in the park. It was a beautiful day and the walk was lovely, but I was a bit dismayed to see litter on the ground - especially plastic litter. That's because plastic typically takes so long to decompose that the trash will be around for a long time, perhaps posing some danger to animals and certainly making the environment less attractive.

That's why I was happy to see these new biodegradable pens from Paper Mate. I'm not encouraging anyone to litter, but it's heartening to know that if someone does leave this pen in the great outdoors, at least the body of these pens is made from a corn-based material that can biodegrade in soil or compose within about one year (according to the manufacturer).

Even better, the pens come in recyclable paper packaging. And on the back of the package is a handy diagram showing how to disassemble the pen when it reaches the end of its useful life, which components should go in the trash and which can be composted.

It's not often that you buy a product that specifically asks you to 'dispose of these in yard soil or home compost', but that's the advice here from the manufacturer.

Plus it's nice to know that the pen's packaging is made from a renewable resource (corn) rather than from a petroleum base.

FYI, Paper Mate also makes a nifty biodegradable pencil.

In terms of quality, I have to say that I think these pens and pencils are very comfortable to hold and seem well built. They're also affordable and attractive. In my opinion, the writing quality is even better than a more expensive (non-biodegradable) Parker pen that I bought recently.

Bravo to Paper Mate. I'd say this is a Green home run.

Where to Buy:

Amazon.com sells 4-packs of the Paper Mate Biodegradable Pens for $6.99. You can also get a 2-pack for $3.59.

As for the mechanical pencils, you can find a 2-pack of those for $5.99 at Office Depot.

Disclaimer - Paper Mate gave me some biodegradable pens and pencils to review.

EconoGreen Bags

Looking for an eco-friendly alternative to your typical plastic trash bag? Check out the line of EconoGreen Plastics bags (and dropcloths) from the whimsically named Jig-A-Loo company.

Jig-A-Loo claims the bags are made from 100% recycled plastic and that they will completely biodegrade leaving "no harmful residue or toxins" in about two years in the environment. (Traditional plastic bags might take up to 1,000 years to degrade in the environment, according to one source I found.)

For a good analysis of the pros and cons of biodegradable plastic bags, check out this article at Natural-Environment.com.

As far as I'm concerned, if you have a choice, it's typically better to pick a product that's made from recycled materials and biodegrades as quickly as possible. On both counts, EconoGreen Plastics bags seem to fit the bill.

Incidentally, the bags are also made in North America. For U.S. Consumers, that means fewer resources were used to transport the bags from point of manufacture to point of sale.

Where to Buy - Use the Store Locator on the Jig-A-Loo website to find a retail location near you. You can also buy through the Jig-A-Loo website ($3.99 for 30 tall kitchen bags).

Disclaimer - Jig-A-Loo gave me a package of EconoGreen bags to review.

Ivee Bamboo Clothing

Sydney Bamboo Terry Pants in Grey available at IveeStyle.com

Why do I like bamboo?

According to multiple sources (1,2,3), bamboo is -

• Ultrarenewable, one of the fastest-growing plants in the world
• Good at preventing soil erosion
• Easily dyed, with minimal water requirements
• Very hardy, able to survive both drought and flood conditions
• Able to grow with little water
• 100% biodegradable
• Naturally antibacterial

But while much bamboo clothing may be eco-friendly, it's not automatically stylish.

Fortunately, Ivee clothing has used those soft, comfy, body-flattering bamboo threads in its hip, sexy yoga designs to create some mighty appealing pants, tunics, tees and hoodies.

One word of advice for shoppers - these clothes really do hug your curves!

My wife didn't mind the snugness on her pair of Sydney Bamboo Pants ($110). In fact, she found them so comfortable that they moved into regular rotation as one of her favorite pants to wear for lounging around the house. She reported that quality was top-notch and the pants made it through a couple of washes in our industrial-strength apartment building washers and dryers looking good as new.

Kayla bamboo/cotton/spandex tunic available at IveeStyle.com

Meanwhile, I didn't get a chance to check out the Kayla Tunic ($110) or Trinity Terry Hoodie ($112) in person, but the photos look like they'll give anyone some sweet Matrix / Blade Runner ultramodern style.

Our only qualms - The price tags might make it hard to build an entire Ivee wardrobe. I understand that high-priced items sometimes seem intrinsically more desirable, but couldn't Ivee have made its separates a little more affordable, particularly given the fact that they're made in China (a country not exactly known for its exorbitant labor costs).

Where to Buy:

You can order items from Ivee's bamboo clothing line directly through the IveeStyle.com website.

Offline, you can find Ivee clothes at selected retailers including the Sports Club LA (Boston, NYC, San Francisco), Salon Magrit (Palm Beach, FL), O2 Aspen, Dailey Method (West Coast) and Pacific Athletic Club (San Francisco and San Diego).

Disclosure - Ivee gave me a pair of pants to review.

cmarchuska eco-friendly fashion

Women's mseries t-shirt from cmarchuska 

Sometimes the simplest things are the best.

I like how Christine Marchuska put a little twist on basic styles with her eco-friendly cmarchuska clothing line to make them a little quirky and interesting, but still versatile and wearable.

For example, the cmarchuska mseries t-shirts have little epaulettes on the shoulder to set them apart from the zillions of other t-shirts out there.  The slim styling on the shirt is comfortable, but very fitted and flattering.

In terms of material, the short-sleeve mseries t-shirts use a 50/50 mix of organic cotton and modal, both of which are considered excellent eco-friendly fabric choices. The long-sleeve women's mseries shirt is made from 100% organic cotton.

Organic cotton is always great, but I have to admit I like the organic cotton/modal blend. The shirt came through my apartment building's industrial washer/dryer circle looking like new. Plus, there's something about the smoothness and softness of modal that makes it feel a bit different and special --just like those spiffy epaulettes. ;-)

FYI, much of the cmarchuska line is made right in New York City's Garment District, but the mseries t-shirts are made in China.

Where to Buy:

You can buy mseries t-shirts ($30-60) and other cmarchuska fashions direct through the designer's website. Some of the t-shirts are plain, while others carry the words "Vivons Vert" - French for "Let's live green!"

K2 Eco Skates

K2 Etu men's Eco Skate made with bamboo and recycled PET

I've been talking a lot about the virtues of bikes and e-bikes lately, but I neglected to mention the virtues of other forms of zero-emission, human-powered transportation.

For example, here in New York City, I frequently see people getting around by skateboard and sometimes (especially kids) by kick-scooter too.

But there's another option for those with good balance and an interest in getting shapely, toned legs. I'm talking about in-line skating (a.k.a. blading or rollerblading).

This was a big craze back in the early 1990's (remember Prayer of the Rollerboys?). In 1996, one study estimated that 27 million Americans had become in-line skaters.

The sport has faded a bit since then. By 2007, the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association was estimating the total U.S. in-line skating population at 10.8 million, with the number of 'core' skaters (defined rather leniently as those who skated at least once a month), dropping to just 4.7 million people.

I do think that most people consider in-line skating a sport or recreational activity rather than a bona-fide commuting/transportation option, but the fact is that experienced in-line skaters can probably expect to achieve average speeds of 10-12 miles per hour.

While quite a bit slower than an e-bike (top speed usually governed to 20 mph) and even slower than most regular bikes (13-15 mph average commuting speed according to some very unscientified London data), in-line skating does have its advantages over either biking option.

E-bikes require an electricity input to charge their batteries. In-line skates require no external inputs (other than human muscle power).

E-bikes and regular bikes are both weighty and bulky. Commuters who are unable to bring the bikes into their offices have to worry about where to park the bike and how to lock it. Theft is a concern. By contrast, in-line skates can be unlaced, brought into an office and left beneath a desk or in a drawer.

And of course it's much easier to skate from a home to a train station and then carry the skates onto the train versus trying to carry a bike onto a train.

That said, in-line skates are not without their drawbacks. I'm a real novice skater, but in my opinion, it's much easier to maintain balance on a bicycle than on skates. Stopping on a bike is much easier too (for me) -- and since stopping is a big part of accident avoidance, that makes me nervous about recommeding in-line skating to non-experts seeking to commute in high-traffic areas.

On the other hand, there's something incredibly liberating about inline skating. Bicycling has a certain rush that comes from propelling yourself faster than any unassisted human could run, but there's always the machine with its gears and pedals between you and the road. With blading, it's amazing how just some sturdy boots and a couple sets of little wheels can give you instant speed.

Whether you're considering in-line skating as a commuting or recreational activity, in either case you'd want to choose the most eco-friendly in-line skates.

While most skates are made of plastics and other synthetic materials, the new K2 Eco Skates - the Etu for men and the Maia for women - give you a great Green alternative.

Both skates have excellent eco credentials. Instead of using metal or plastic for the frames that hold the wheels, K2 has chosen to use renewable and biodegradable bamboo. These bamboo frames give the skates a beautiful, natural look. I almost felt like I was skating on a piece of art.

From a design standpoint, I also liked the way that K2 used a bamboo leaf motif on the strap, boot and frame.

(And in case you're worried about the strength of a bamboo skate, numerous sources point out that bamboo has a tensile strength greater than that of some types of steel.)

K2 has also taken steps to incorporate recycled materials into its Eco line, keeping trash out of landfills and supporting recycling efforts by using 100% recycled PET for the liners and laces of the Etu and Maia skates. The mesh on the skates is made from 50% recycled PET.

Thankfully, K2 says all its Eco skates are PVC-free.

I had a chance to test the Etu skate in person. I was happy to find that K2 had used minimal packaging - just a bit of tissue paper around the skates and some recyclable cardboard and paper inside the skates themselves to help them keep their shape. The box itself was labeled as being made of 70% recycled material and printed with eco-friendly soy-based inks.

Fit and finish on the K2 boots is quite good. I was a little disappointed to see that the boots were made in China -- although I suppose that's a good place to find bamboo. But it would have been nice from an eco standpoint if the skate had not been shipped half-way around the world.

The boots feel stable and well-made. I was able to skate comfortably and smoothly on the 84 mm wheels with ILQ-7 bearings (highly regarded on at least one forum).

I'm impressed that K2 says it is working toward a recycling/take-back program for its eco skates. Meanwhile, the company has developed a short DIY tutorial on how consumers can recycle or re-use components from their skates.

Incidentally, the DIY tutorial is part of a very nice section of K2's website that offers lots of information on steps the company is taking to reduce its 'carbon skateprint'. Lots of companies could learn from K2 in communicating the steps they are taking to go green.

Bottom line - An average human walking speed is just under 3 miles per hour (4.8 km per hour). In-line skating provides a zero-emission, relatively low-cost, eco-friendly way of tripling or quadrupling unassisted travel speed. The bamboo and recycled components of the K2 Etu and Maia skates seem to make them the best eco-friendly options in the category. Even better, the Eco stakes also seem appealing from a style and quality standpoint.

Where to buy:

You can purchase both the women's Maia skates and men's Etu skates at InlineSkates.net for $189.95 with free shipping.

Remember that most inline skaters fall from time to time -- especially if you're just getting started learning the sport. Skating and bicycling have many eco-advantages over driving a car, but unlike in a car, you won't have any seatbelt or airbags to protect you in the event of a crash. Therefore, it makes sense to use caution and wear the right safety gear. That's why I strongly recommend that all inline skates protect themselves as much as possible by wearing a helmet plus appropriate pads and wrist guards.

K2 has introduced matching sets of eco-friendly Etu pads and Maia pads ($33.74 each via InlineSkates.net) that incorporate recycled PET materials.

ecosource Home and Garden

According to its founders, ecosource Home and Garden aims to make products that are:

• cheap
• fun to buy
• don't feel like a sacrifice
• better for the planet

Looks like ecosource hit all the bases with its new line of grēnware(TM) tableware, bowls and plates made primarily with plant cellulose - mostly rice hulls and coconut fiber. Instead of using artificial dyes or paints, grēnware simply offers the natural earth tones of the plants from which it was made.

What you end up with is one of the coolest collections of Green kitchen products that we've seen thus far. On one hand, grēnware is pretty tough. We like the samples too much to drop them from a great height, but we experimented dropping them from 1-2 feet into the sink and onto the countertop. Not a scratch.

In fact, any guests who didn't know the grēnware secret might think that your plates and dishes were made out of yucky plastic.

The dark Cocoa colored plates in particular almost have the lightness and smoothness of old-fashioned melamine...only without all the associated toxicity. The lighter Natural colored plates and bowls definitely seem a little rougher and more obviously "eco". Personally we like both styles - Cocoa is dressier and fancier, Natural seems better suited for breakfasts or casual meals.

ecosource doesn't call grēnware shatterproof, but it's certainly sturdy enough that I agree with the company's suggestion to use grēnware outdoors at pool parties or picnics. If your grēnware does chip or break at a picnic, you don't even really have to worry about picking up the pieces -- ecosource says that grēnware is designed to biodegrade in as little as four months. (Again, we didn't have a chance to test this claim, but if any readers want to plant a bowl in their backyard and leave us a comment in May, we'll definitely post it!)

You can't put grēnware in the microwave or the oven, but ecosource does say that the product is dishwasher-safe. We tested this claim and found that grēnware came through the dishwasher just fine -- although ecosource does say that regular dishwasher use may shorten the product's intended five-year lifespan. (The company therefore recommends handwashing.)

We're sort of head-over-heels this product, but that doesn't mean that we're blindfolded to any potential faults. We'll start with the little stuff -

1) Change the label! Our grēnware tableware samples came with a little barcoded sticker on the bottom that proved almost impossible to remove without leaving behind a sticky, gluey mess. Surely it must be possible to use an easier-to-remove label that still sticks when it needs to? We felt super-guilty at using so much water just trying to get off all that glue residue.

2) Made in China. We generally prefer to buy U.S. products both to support local industry and to avoid the environmental transport costs of importing something from literally halfway around the world. On the other hand, perhaps China has more of the raw materials (rice hulls certainly, not sure about the coconut fibers) than we do, and so therefore perhaps it really does make sense to make grēnware over there...

3) Replace the tableware every five years? This is really our only misgiving - the flip-side of designing a product that decomposes easily is that it probably won't be the most durable thing ever. ecosource notes that you don't need to feel guilty about throwing grēnware away since the product decomposes so quickly, but it still seems a little profligate to buy new place settings twice every decade. We've had the same set of post-collegiate dishes for nearly a decade with plans to keep using them until they get chipped into oblivion. Of course, accidents and rough handling do eventually damage most dishes to the point where you need to get a new set, but we still think that most conventional dishes will last longer than grēnware - unless you're a real klutz.

In summary, if you're looking for some versatile, eco-friendly and beautiful tableware, grēnware rules. If you crave variety in your life and like to change your place settings every 3-5 years, grēnware could be just the ticket.

If on the other hand, you believe the most eco-friendly choice is to buy one set of plates that will last for eons, then you may want to give grēnware a pass.

But even so, definitely take a look at some of the other ecosource products, particularly greenPots - strong, incredibly lightweight planters and pots pre-drilled for drainage. Made from grain byproducts (rice hulls again), ecosource says that these weather-resistant pots contain neither wood nor petroleum, deplete no natural resources and can decompose or be composted at the end of their useful lives.

We don't have a ton of gardening experience, but from what we do know, many pots won't survive all that long outdoors anyway, particularly if they get knocked over by high winds or rampaging squirrels. It's nice to know that when your planter gets cracked, you can simply bury the pieces and that they'll harmlessly go back to the earth. Or if you've been nurturing a plant indoors and are ready to plant it in the ground, you could just break up the pot (to free the roots) and then put the whole shebang in the hole.

Pretty awesome.

Where to buy:

Use the ecosource website to find a retailer near you. (The list is ordered alphabetically within each state, but we'd love to see a tool that would let you search by zip code and then map out the closest retailers. Just a suggestion...) Unfortunately, at this time, it does not appear that either grēnware or greenPots are available for purchase online.

Natracare Feminine Hygiene Products

OK, we admit it. As a guy, we feel a bit...uncomfortable talking about feminine hygiene products.

But we also feel it's important that women know they have a Green hygiene option thanks to Natracare, a company that produces 100% certified organic cotton tampons, panty liners, baby wipes, nursing pads and more.

If you're already eating organic food and wearing organic cotton clothing, why not consider organic personal care products for you and/or your baby?

Not every Natracare product uses 100% organic cotton (some are simply labeled 'Natural'), but the company says its entire product line is totally free of plastics, chlorine and perfumes. Even the wrappers on its individually-wrapped products are made from TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) paper and plant starch, while the outer package is composed of 100% recycled cellulose.

More than 90% biodegradable, Natracare products aren't just good for the planet, but they may also be better for your skin. Natracare says gynecologists will often recommend Natracare to women who suffer from skin allergies or irritation when using other personal care brands.

Sold in more than 45 countries around the world, Natracare products have achieved a number of certifications from organizations including The Soil Association and The Nordic Ecolabel.

As near as we can tell, Natracare makes an admirable assortment of products. The new packaging does a good job of spelling out the Green benefits, but we do think that Natracare could make its website a bit more user-friendly. We'd love to see individual pages for each product with clearer explanations of the Natural and Organic product lines and the eco and health benefits of each.

Where to buy:

You can purchase Natracare products online at Drugstore.com, Amazon.com, Organic Pharmacy and HerbTrader.com.

The products range in price from MSRP $3.29 (30 Tanga Natural Panty Liners) to MSRP $7.49 (16 Regular or Super Certified Organic 100% Cotton Tampons), although you may be able to find discounts online or in stores.

Offline, you can find Natracare products at a range of natural food stores, supermarkets and pharmacies including Whole Foods, Shaw's, Fred Meyer, Publix and Wegman's.

You can browse a more complete list of online and offline stores on Natracare's website.

Perf Go Green Recycled Plastic Bags

The annoying thing about repetition is that it can make even the most sensible advice seem trite.

Such is the sad fate of the environmentalist creed: "Take only photographs; leave only footprints."

It's pretty much impossible to live by that saying, but it's a good aspiration. It's certainly much better than the current human reality of take lots of natural resources, leave 500 billion plastic bags lying around (according to AlterNet).

That's why 1GreenProduct.com will try to identify and share alternatives to traditional bags that may take centuries to decompose.

A few weeks ago, we brought you a review of biodegradable, compostable BioBags.

Today we present Perf Go Green biodegradable plastic bags.

Available in 13-gallon and 30-gallon sizes (as well as drop cloth, kitty litter and doggie duty versions), Perf Go Green claims several shades of greenness:

- First, the bags themselves are apparently made from recycled plastic. That's great since every product that incorporates recycled plastic helps keep plastics out of landfills and creates a market that encourages more recycling.

- Second, Perf Go Green claims that its bags totally biodegrade within 2 years in a landfill environment. Apparently when the bags are exposed to oxygen, moisture and microrganisms, they decompose into simple natural materials. (The bags were apparently tested according to this standard.)

- Third, the Perf Go Green bags supposedly leave zero toxins behind after they biodegrade. A Perf Go Green representative says the bags break down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.

FYI, Perf Go Green bags come in a box made of 100% recycled paperboard. The box works like a tissue dispenser. The adhesive strip on the bottom of the box secures the dispenser to the inside of your trash can. I suppose that could save some valuable kitchen shelf space...

We weren't able to sit in a landfill for two years and wait to see if the bags really decompose. But we can vouch first-hand for the strength of Perf Go Green. We used a highly unscientific 'pull test' and discovered that these bags seem capable of hauling some serious trash. Hopefully they'll be just as good at having a breakdown a couple years later.

Where to buy:

Both the 13-gallon (MSRP $4.80) and 30-gallon ($7.35 MSRP) Perf Go Green bags contain a dozen bags per box. Buy them online at Amazon.com or Drugstore.com.

BioBag

I have a dirty secret. It's literally dirty because it involves my garbage.

For years, I've been using plastic bags to line the trash bins in my kitchen and bathroom.

Plastic bags! I mean, if God were doing the whole 10 plagues thing today, he'd probably find a way to include plastic bags somewhere between hail and locusts.

It's not like I was buying the plastic bags - I was just reusing the ones I brought home from the grocery store, the drugstore and other miscellaneous places. I wanted to break the habit and get a reusable tote (like this one we featured a couple of weeks ago from Timberland), but then I didn't know what to use in the trash can at home...

But now I've seen the light. (The CFL light, naturally.) I should have been using BioBags all along.

These 100% biodegradable, 100% compostable bags contain no polyethylene (chemical numero uno in the aforementioned plastic shopping bag).

Where plastic bags can take 100, 500 or even 1000 years to decompose, BioBag says that its bags break decompose in just 10 to 40 days in a municipal composting environment.

There's another big difference. From what I understand (largely from reading Alan Weisman's excellent The World Without Us), plastic bags and other plastic objects often just degrade into tiny pieces of plastic. It's not really clear how long it will take for these microscopic plastic granules to ever 'go away'.

BioBag's ingredient list, on the other hand, includes starch, vegetable oil and other renewable resources. BioBagUSA reports that its bags are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute and that they meet new California legal standards for biodegradable and compostable plastic.

And just to make you feel even better about BioBagging it, BioBags also claim to be GMO-free and certified for use in organic agriculture. Heck, they say that even the inks and dyes on the bags are soy-based.

Thanks to Katy Layton of PetFinder.com for bringing BioBag to our attention. As Katy pointed out, BioBag makes bags perfect for picking up after your pooch or lining your cat's litter pan.

BioBag makes others specifically for kitchen trash, leaves and lawn trimmings,

Where to buy:
Many online retailers carry BioBag products. BioBags can also be found at many natural food stores nationwide and will soon be available in Petco stores nationwide.