Do you know that 25% of a family's waste is at Christmas time. With all of the wrapping, etc.
Last week I was watching Rachel Ray and she had Michelle Beschon from BOrganic on her show talking about recycling of Christmas items. The best idea of all that she brought to the show was shredding wrapping paper in the shredder and then using it for packing material. Why not take it a step further and use all of the shredding material from your other paper materials that you shred.
This is a great idea for those who sell your products and need to ship them.
Showing posts with label Recycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recycle. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Biodegradable vs. Recyclable: Which is the Better Packaging Solution?
by Tom Szaky of TerraCycle, Trenton NJ on 12. 4.08
We all know that packaging waste is a major issue. But what is the most feasible solution? Today there are fundamentally three choices for consumer packaged goods companies: non-recyclable, recyclable and biodegradable (reusable packaging, a la glass milk jugs are a fourth option that is quickly disappearing.) This question is incredibly important as we as a society try to find a balance between consumerism, capitalism and environmentalism.
Please read on and join the discussion. My hope is to get the great minds of TreeHugger engaged in this vital debate.
Non-recyclable has very limited choices outside a landfill or incinerator. At TerraCycle we are pioneering upcycling solutions for non-recyclable waste streams through our free national collection programs, the Brigades. However, these programs (almost 12,000 collection sites strong) are merely a drop in the ocean when compared to the many billions of used packages discarded every year.
Recycling works for many papers, plastics and metals. While an amazing solution - the only catch with recycling is that only the polymer of the waste stream is viewed as valuable (the shape is viewed as waste). In the end, with an investment of energy (less than what it takes to extract and make virgin materials) the valuable raw materials of the package can be rescued and reused.
Finally, biodegradable packaging, the latest step in sustainable packaging design. Many folks within the consumer products industry are looking at biodegradable packaging as the ultimate solution to the packaging waste problem. Typically based on PLA, biodegradable packaging is a set of polymers that are derived from renewable raw materials like starch (e.g. corn, potato, tapioca etc), cellulose, soy protein, lactic acid etc., not hazardous in production and decompose back into carbon dioxide, water, biomass etc. when discarded properly. The challenges with this solution are as follows:
1. PLA is based on bio-plastics (just like bio-diesel) and according to estimates there isn’t enough land in the world to grow enough corn (and other suitable crops) to make enough PLA to substitute out traditional plastic consumption.
2. What do you do with the biodegradable package once you’re done with it? If you live in San Francisco (or a handful of other major cities in the US) you can put it into the green waste can for composting or you may put it into your personal compost pile (learn how here!) But if you don’t live in a city with a green waste collection program or you don’t have your own composting pile you’re out of luck since very little biodegrades in a traditional landfill (due to lack of oxygen flow).
3. Biodegradable and compostable plastics currently cost drastically more than traditional plastics (hopefully this can change over time). This price difference deters many companies, who are still focused on the traditional bottom line.
So the question is this: How should PLA be leveraged? Is it the solution, and if so for what is it optimal for? If PLA isn’t viable, what is the true mass market scalable solution to packaging waste and what should we be pushing major companies to consider?
Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/biodegradable-recyclable-packaging-solution.php
We all know that packaging waste is a major issue. But what is the most feasible solution? Today there are fundamentally three choices for consumer packaged goods companies: non-recyclable, recyclable and biodegradable (reusable packaging, a la glass milk jugs are a fourth option that is quickly disappearing.) This question is incredibly important as we as a society try to find a balance between consumerism, capitalism and environmentalism.
Please read on and join the discussion. My hope is to get the great minds of TreeHugger engaged in this vital debate.
Non-recyclable has very limited choices outside a landfill or incinerator. At TerraCycle we are pioneering upcycling solutions for non-recyclable waste streams through our free national collection programs, the Brigades. However, these programs (almost 12,000 collection sites strong) are merely a drop in the ocean when compared to the many billions of used packages discarded every year.
Recycling works for many papers, plastics and metals. While an amazing solution - the only catch with recycling is that only the polymer of the waste stream is viewed as valuable (the shape is viewed as waste). In the end, with an investment of energy (less than what it takes to extract and make virgin materials) the valuable raw materials of the package can be rescued and reused.
Finally, biodegradable packaging, the latest step in sustainable packaging design. Many folks within the consumer products industry are looking at biodegradable packaging as the ultimate solution to the packaging waste problem. Typically based on PLA, biodegradable packaging is a set of polymers that are derived from renewable raw materials like starch (e.g. corn, potato, tapioca etc), cellulose, soy protein, lactic acid etc., not hazardous in production and decompose back into carbon dioxide, water, biomass etc. when discarded properly. The challenges with this solution are as follows:
1. PLA is based on bio-plastics (just like bio-diesel) and according to estimates there isn’t enough land in the world to grow enough corn (and other suitable crops) to make enough PLA to substitute out traditional plastic consumption.
2. What do you do with the biodegradable package once you’re done with it? If you live in San Francisco (or a handful of other major cities in the US) you can put it into the green waste can for composting or you may put it into your personal compost pile (learn how here!) But if you don’t live in a city with a green waste collection program or you don’t have your own composting pile you’re out of luck since very little biodegrades in a traditional landfill (due to lack of oxygen flow).
3. Biodegradable and compostable plastics currently cost drastically more than traditional plastics (hopefully this can change over time). This price difference deters many companies, who are still focused on the traditional bottom line.
So the question is this: How should PLA be leveraged? Is it the solution, and if so for what is it optimal for? If PLA isn’t viable, what is the true mass market scalable solution to packaging waste and what should we be pushing major companies to consider?
Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/biodegradable-recyclable-packaging-solution.php
Monday, March 23, 2009
What to do with leftover soap scraps
Soap scraps are those pieces of soap leftover from the soapmaking project. For those who make melt and pour soap it is the soap left in the pot that dries into one solid piece that can be scooped out and used. For those who make cold process soap, it is the ends of the soap loaf after the 'good' pieces have been cut off. Some stores sell their soap scraps as a goody bag and others sell them or give them away as samples. But castoffs or not soap scraps are valuable real estate in soapmaking. They make great gifts and have a homespun sophistication all their own.Soap scraps are also good to use as filler pieces in other soap projects, especially if they are used as contrasting or complementary colors.
Soap scraps can be used to make remelted soap and when grated and made into soap balls, makes a really wonderful item that may be further embellished with herbs, flowers or spices.
Soap Ball Ingredients:
* Freshly grated(shredded) soap
* 1/8 - 1/4 tsp essential oil/fragrance oil per soap ball
* A few drops deionized water
* Crushed herbs/flowers/spices to coat the balls
There are no hard and fast rules as there are few ingredients. Once you get started using up those scraps of soap, there are infinite ways to embellish and present the soaps so that they are simply divine.
The first time I saw soap balls was in a French handmade soap shop in New York City. The soap balls were plain white and rustic with the most heavenly scent. They were presented on a white platter, each tied with a single ribbon that encircled the soap and held together with a straight pin. Years later after making soap and creating my own soap balls, I realized what they were and how easy it is to make them.
1. The first thing to consider is that the soap pieces should be a bit moist. The ideal soap used to make soap balls would be soap that is freshly grated and still a bit moist and pliable. The drier the soap, the harder it is to scrunch it into one cohesive ball.
Cold process soap that has cured while it may appear tough on the outside, when grated is usually still moist on the inside. Cold process soap that has not cured fully and still has some lye remaining in it can also be used. To grate this type of soap, follow the same precautions as when handling lye but when the soap balls are complete, embellish and store in a dry location to cure for 3-6 weeks.
2. Next a liquid of choice is needed to hold the soap together. Fragrance/essential oil counts as part of that liquid but a liquid that is not purely oil is better to hold the pieces together. Ideally, a few drops of water mixed with the fragrance can be used.
3. Sprinkle the grated soap with the liquids, knead them a bit to get the pieces to stick together and roll them into a ball shape. Finish by rolling in whatever spice, flower petals or herbs used to embellish them.
Here are some sample essential oil/fragrance oil, herbs, flowers or spices combinations.
1. Covering - ground nutmeg, black sesame seedsEssential oil - clove and bay eo blend
2. Covering - crushed rose petals (remove stem or any hard pieces)Essential oil - rosewood, frankincense and lavender eo blendEssential oil - rose geranium Essential oil/Fragrance oil - patchouli and rose (rose fragrance oil maybe substituted rose essential oil
3. Covering - crushed dried mint leavesEssential oil - peppermint, lemon/lime, rosemary eo blend
4. Covering - dried lemongrass shredded in fine pieces Essential oil - lemongrass, orange eo blend
Permission to reprint by Winsome Tapper, Soapmaking Editor, www.bellaonline.com/site/soapmaking.
Source: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art60735.asp/zzz
Soap scraps can be used to make remelted soap and when grated and made into soap balls, makes a really wonderful item that may be further embellished with herbs, flowers or spices.
Soap Ball Ingredients:
* Freshly grated(shredded) soap
* 1/8 - 1/4 tsp essential oil/fragrance oil per soap ball
* A few drops deionized water
* Crushed herbs/flowers/spices to coat the balls
There are no hard and fast rules as there are few ingredients. Once you get started using up those scraps of soap, there are infinite ways to embellish and present the soaps so that they are simply divine.
The first time I saw soap balls was in a French handmade soap shop in New York City. The soap balls were plain white and rustic with the most heavenly scent. They were presented on a white platter, each tied with a single ribbon that encircled the soap and held together with a straight pin. Years later after making soap and creating my own soap balls, I realized what they were and how easy it is to make them.
1. The first thing to consider is that the soap pieces should be a bit moist. The ideal soap used to make soap balls would be soap that is freshly grated and still a bit moist and pliable. The drier the soap, the harder it is to scrunch it into one cohesive ball.
Cold process soap that has cured while it may appear tough on the outside, when grated is usually still moist on the inside. Cold process soap that has not cured fully and still has some lye remaining in it can also be used. To grate this type of soap, follow the same precautions as when handling lye but when the soap balls are complete, embellish and store in a dry location to cure for 3-6 weeks.
2. Next a liquid of choice is needed to hold the soap together. Fragrance/essential oil counts as part of that liquid but a liquid that is not purely oil is better to hold the pieces together. Ideally, a few drops of water mixed with the fragrance can be used.
3. Sprinkle the grated soap with the liquids, knead them a bit to get the pieces to stick together and roll them into a ball shape. Finish by rolling in whatever spice, flower petals or herbs used to embellish them.
Here are some sample essential oil/fragrance oil, herbs, flowers or spices combinations.
1. Covering - ground nutmeg, black sesame seedsEssential oil - clove and bay eo blend
2. Covering - crushed rose petals (remove stem or any hard pieces)Essential oil - rosewood, frankincense and lavender eo blendEssential oil - rose geranium Essential oil/Fragrance oil - patchouli and rose (rose fragrance oil maybe substituted rose essential oil
3. Covering - crushed dried mint leavesEssential oil - peppermint, lemon/lime, rosemary eo blend
4. Covering - dried lemongrass shredded in fine pieces Essential oil - lemongrass, orange eo blend
Permission to reprint by Winsome Tapper, Soapmaking Editor, www.bellaonline.com/site/soapmaking.
Source: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art60735.asp/zzz
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