The EcoChic

As I continue my cloth diaper journey over this past year I have become associated with many wonderful companies, organizations and people who support the modern cloth diaper revolution.  I’m still trying to decide how I can best serve the cause and bring cloth diapers into more homes.  One way I have began advocating cloth diapers is through the Real Diaper Association (RDA).  I am in the process of becoming an RDA Circle Leader…an advocate for cloth diapers in the community. 

The RDA is a non-profit organization who works with parents all across the US to encourage the use of reusable cloth diapers 100% of the time!  I like to say that I use cloth diapers 99.99% of the time…and I cringe every time I put Lil’ B in a hard, crunchy sposie. 

My commitment to cloth diapers is primarily an environmental commitment.  Research shows that cloth diapers are far better for the environment than disposables.  Even though you will use slightly more water for washing…your babies environmental butt-print (hehe!) will be greatly reduced when using cloth diapers.

How can I help?  By introducing cloth diapers to others in my own community (and online!).  We’ve already worked to educate our babies caregivers, our family, and our friends to the world of cloth diapers.  I have several friends of mine who have recently given birth or are expecting…and I continue to share my own experiences with them.  Disposable diapers are readily available and accepted as the norm…cloth diapers are not.  When I mention to my friends that we use cloth they think I’m some new aged, hippie chick!  I’m just a normal working mom with a normal family.  Yes, we (OK…I) am a little obsessed with eco-issues and my friends have learned to love me for it.  Just like with recycling and CFLs…I believe that cloth diapers will one day be considered the norm as well. 

And I will continue to share my own cloth diaper journey with others…one baby at a time!  What about you? Is your baby in 100% reusable cloth diapers all the time?  Do you want to learn more about cloth diaper or the RDA?

Giveaway Alert! Win a $20 gift certificate Giveaway ended from myEARTH360! Shop using the holiday coupon code below! Eco-ngratulations Jennifer T! Watch your email. 

You may be wondering if there are stores out there that specialize in items for the eco-junkie in your life…YES!  myEARTH360 has some really unique items mixed with regular items like your reusable bottles.  They have items for adults, kids, babies, and pets!  Yes, they even have stuff for Fido!  Their mission at myEARTH360 is to help other transition to an earth-friendlier lifestyle.

For the total eco-junkie you may want to buy them a set of 4 glass drinking straws by Glass Dharma.  Any guesses on how many drinking straws are trashed each day in America?  On the Glass Dharma website they state that McDonald’s claimed to serve over 52 million meals per day (2008 stats)….that’s just in one day at one restaurant!  I can’t imagine how many straws are actually used each day!  (I’ll be researching this while on vacation this week…because I really want to know!) 

Another item that myEARTH360 sells are coin purses and handbags made from candy and food wrappers.  They are woven into a chain and a zipper added.  What an excellent upcycling of waste!  And as you can imagine…each bag will be as unique as that eco-junkie on your list. 

Buy It!  Shop at myEARTH360 and a portion of all sales will be donated to the National Environmental Education Foundation.  Use coupon code THEECOCHIC and save 15% off your order (one time use only).  Making a purchase from myEARTH360 for the holiday’s is a win-win for everyone involved!

Win It!  One lucky reader will win a $20 gift certificate from myEARTH360.  (Not to be combined with any other offer and expires on June 1, 2010.)  To enter just visit myEARTH360 and tell me something interesting you learned about founder Lynne Hasselberger.  Leave your comment below. 

Extra Entries:
-Enter any of my other Eco-Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (Leave a comment telling me which one’s you’ve entered.)
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe using Feedburner or other reader (Leave your email addy)
-Add my button to your blog or site (Leave a link to your blog)
-Blog about this giveaway and the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide  (Leave a link to your blog)
-Share this giveaway with your friends (Leave me a comment telling me how!)

Giveaway open to all residents in the US over the age of 18 yrs old.  Must leave a comment for each entry with a maximum of 10 entries total.  Giveaway ends December 7, 2009 at midnight (EST).  Entrants must leave their email to be contacted if they are selected. 

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

Giveaway ended! Eco-ngratulations Jennifer T!

More from the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.

*This post was sponsored by myEARTH360.

Giveaway Alert!There will be 2 winners for this giveaway! One winner will receive a Reminder Set by Bagnesia – ECO-ngratulations Cinella!; the second winner will receive a set (4) of produce bags – ECO-ngratulations Lauren! by Bagnesia. 

Bagnesia: a person’s forgetfulness to grab their reusable bags.

Like most people these days I have about 20 reusable bags from various stores around the area.  I’m pretty good about remembering them when we go to the grocery store but I often forget when we go shopping anywhere else.  And there are always those days you just plain forget…even at the grocery store.  Bagnesia has created a product to help you remember your bags!

The Bagnesia Reminder Kit includes one compact reusable bag, one door hanger, one steering wheel wrap, a clip, and a carrying pouch.  Unlike the bags you are use to getting at the grocery store the Bagnesia bag is a washable nylon bag that folds up to about the size of a compact digital camera or a small wallet.  It has an elastic strap sewn into the seem so you can keep it neat inside your purse or glove box.  It’s small enough that I leave it in my purse of diaper bag so I always have at least one bag with me. 

The door hanger is a great reminder for your front door.  And just in case you missed that reminder, the steering wheel wrap is right in front of your face!  I’ve actually gotten in my car and remembered my bags because of the wrap.  If you are like me you probably have a billion things to carry with you.  The small carrying pouch and clip are nice because you can throw your cell phone, wallet and keys inside while you shop…and you don’t have to carry your big purse into the store with you.  Or you can toss it into your diaper bag so you don’t have to go rummaging for it when you get to the register.  The Reminder Kit sells for $14.99 and would be the perfect gift to the eco-junkie or eco-rookie! 

Want to add more?  Why not add a set of 4 produce bags to your purchase!  These washable mesh nylon bags will replace those smaller plastic bags you place your produce in.  They are lightweight and compact with a drawstring closure.  The produce bags sell for $7.99 for the set. 

Website:  www.bagnesia.com or www.grabyourbags.com 
Twitter:  @Bagnesia
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grab-Your-Bags/

Win It!  Be one of two lucky readers to win in this giveaway!  The first winner will receive a Bagnesia Reminder Set and the second winner will receive a set of 4 produce bags.  To enter, visit Bagnesia and tell me one of the Envirofacts from their site.  Leave your answer below. 

Extra Entries:
-Enter any of my other Eco-Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (Leave a comment telling me which one’s you’ve entered.)
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe using Feedburner or other reader (Leave your email addy)
-Add my button to your blog or site (Leave a link to your blog)
-Blog about this giveaway and the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide  (Leave a link to your blog)
-Share this giveaway with your friends (Leave me a comment telling me how!)

Giveaway open to all residents in the US over the age of 18 yrs old.  Must leave a comment for each entry with a maximum of 10 entries total.  Giveaway ends December 7, 2009 at midnight (EST).  Entrants must leave their email to be contacted if they are selected. 

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

Giveaway ended! ECO-ngratulations Cinella and Lauren!

More from the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.

*This post is sponsored by Bagnesia.

Giveaway Alert! Win a limited edition Holiday set of (2) cloth napkins from Fabkins!    Giveaway ended but be sure to use coupon code CHIC15 for 15% off your purchase!  ECO-ngratulations Khrystina! Watch your email.

It seems like it was just yesterday that school was starting and I was talking about Fabkins awesome cloth napkins designed for kids lunches.  My son has used his sports Fabkins in his lunch for 4 months now and loves them.  They wash well and since his are dark blue they don’t stain either.  We have another brand of cloth napkins that are white and they are already dirty looking (but that’s a boy thing…messy!). 

Well Fabkins has expanded their line to include a cute holiday set.  The one’s we received included a gingerbread man and a Christmas tree. They also a snowman and a stocking.  For a limited time you can purchase these holiday Fabkins for $7.95 for a set of 2. 

At 13″ x 13″ they are perfect size to use as a wrapping paper for your child’s small gifts.  They would be perfect in their stocking or as a teachers gift. 

Buy It:  You can buy your own Fabkins (holiday or any other design) online HERE.  Use coupon code CHIC15to save 15% off your order. 

Win It:  Win a set of 2 Holiday Edition Fabkins by leaving me a comment below telling me what your favorite Fabkins design is. 

Extra Entries:
-Enter any of my other Eco-Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (Leave a comment telling me which one’s you’ve entered.)
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe using Feedburner or other reader (Leave your email addy)
-Add my button to your blog or site (Leave a link to your blog)
-Blog about this giveaway and the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide  (Leave a link to your blog)
-Share this giveaway with your friends (Leave me a comment telling me how!)

Giveaway open to all residents in the US over the age of 18 yrs old.  Must leave a comment for each entry with a maximum of 10 entries total.  Giveaway ends December 7, 2009 at midnight (EST).  Entrants must leave their email to be contacted if they are selected. 

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

Giveaway ended! ECO-ngratulations Khrystina!

More from the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.

*This post was sponsored by Fabkins.

Giveaway Alert!  I have two giveaways with this post and two winners compliments of graze organic and ReUsies!  See details for entry below. ECO-ngratulations Cinella and Tamara! Cinella just won the set of reusable bags from graze organics and Tamara won the set of reusable bags from ReUsies!  Watch your email for more information!

Go look in your kitchen and tell me how many boxes of plastic sandwich and snack bags you have!

(Yes, that was an order…go look now!)

(I’m waiting!)

My pantry has one box of sandwich size bags and I plan on having that box last me the rest of the year!  We are slowly breaking our baggie habit.  It’s much easier to break the habit with my kids and myself but I’m still working on the hubster!  Did you know that the average person uses 3-4 baggies per day?  Multiply that number by the number of members in your family and then multiply that by 365 days of the year and you have a really big number don’t you??  (Ok…I’ll wait as you write that down and do the calculations!  For me that would be 6,840 baggies in just one year!!!)  I’m almost positive you are not like my dear sweet Grandmother who washes her baggies and reuses them, are you?  No, you use them once and throw them into the trash (which in case you are wondering is probably still sitting in a hole in the ground not far from your house.) 

Well I have a solution for you!  Reusable fabric sandwich and snack bags.  I found 2 brands which I was very fond of and want to share these wonderful companies with you. 

The first is graze organic, a small business in California, that makes 100% certified organic cotton bags.  Available in two sizes (sandwich and snack size) these bags have no plastic lining, are printed with water based (non-toxic/PVC-free/no plastisols) ink right here in the USA!  graze organic sells their bags in sets of 3 and in a deluxe set of 5 bags ($24-38/set) perfect for your complete lunch!  My son’s favorite graze bag is the ‘Surprise!’ bag!  Even if something doesn’t require a bag he insists that I put it in one of his bags!  It’s actually quite adorable!  The graze bags seal using hook/loop velcro and is very easy to use.  They aren’t lined so you should use caution if you want to put watermelon or other ‘water’ substances into them!

You may be wondering how easy they are to clean!  I actually (depending on what I put into them) reuse them a few times before I wash them.  Just open and shake clean (empty the crumbs the mice have left behind) and they are ready to use again.  They are machine washable too.  To extend the life of the fabric (and be a little greener) you could always hand wash them in your sink and lay them out to dry!  I tend to just throw them in wash with the kitchen towels at the end of the week.  Very cute and very functional bags!  Our graze organic bags have become a staple in our school lunches and in Lil’ B’s diaper bag (great for puffs and cereal snacks!!).

The second brand of bags is from ReUsies, a small business from Seattle.  The ReUsies bags are 100% cotton (not organic) and lined with a leak resistant nylon.  Don’t worry…the nylon used is BPA-free, Lead-free, and Phthalate-free so they are safe for you and your family!  ReUsies are also machine washable but since they are lined are very easy to wipe clean between washes.  ReUsies also have Velcro closures.  ReUsies currently have over 25 different fabric patterns for girls, boys, and adults!  My son is loving his baseball bag in black!

ReUsies are sold individually at $8.75 for the sandwich size and $6.75 for the snack size.  That’s about the cost of 1-2 boxes of disposable bags and you won’t ever run out!  Just think how much money you will save by not having to keep buying bags to throw away!  Your pocket book will thank you!

Buy It Now!  Don’t waste any more money on those disposable bags!  Invest in a set of reusable bags for each member of your family today.  Whether you like the graze organic bags or the ReUsies I’m sure the Earth will thank you!  

Win It!  Both graze organic and ReUsies are giving away a set of reusable bags.  graze organics is giving away a set of 3 bags (one large, two small) and ReUsies is giving away a set of 2 bags (one large, one small).  I will draw 2 winners, one for each brand.  Contest open to residents in the US. 

MANDATORY ENTRY!  Visit both graze organics and ReUsies and tell me your favorite style/design from each brand.  Leave a comment below with your responses. 

EXTRA ENTRY #1!  Follow us on Twitter!  @TheEcoChic @grazeorganic @ReUsies.  Leave a comment below telling me you follow us all!

EXTRA ENTRY #2!  Tweet about this giveaway!  “Reusable sandwich bags are great for the Earth! Win a set from @grazeorganic @ReUsies from @TheEcoChic www.theecochic.com”  Maximum of 5 extra entries for this contest!  Leave a comment below with a link to your tweet.

EXTRA ENTRY #3!  Subscribe to The Eco Chic via Feedburner to be delivered to your inbox!  That way you will never miss another giveaway!  Leave a comment below with the email address you used to subscribe.

EXTRA ENTRY #4!  Subscribe to The Eco Chic via Google Reader and Share this post with your friends!  Add me to the “People You Follow” and “Share” this post with your friends!  (You can find me at theecochic@gmail.com on Google Reader)  Leave me a comment below.

EXTRA ENTRY #5!  Become a Fan on FaceBook of The Eco Chic!  Feel free to share me with your friends!  Leave me a comment telling me you are a fan!  

Remember to leave a separate comment for each task and the first one is mandatory before the extra entries will be counted! 

Contest ends on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at midnight (EST).

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

ECO-ngratulations! Cinella and Tamara are the winners of this giveaway! Watch your emails for more information!

A set of graze organic reusable bags and a set of ReUsies reusable bags were provided by the companies for this review. 

Giveaway Alert!  As part of my Blogiversary Celebration this is the third giveaway of the day!  One winner will win a complete everdayjun Waste Free Lunch Kit! 

Yes, I’m a lunchbox whore!  Between my son and I we now have 5 lunchboxes in our collection.  What can I say?  One is pretty, one is cute, and two are regular store bought boxes.  My favorite by far is our newest lunchbox by everdayjun!  It’s really hard to find unique lunchboxes for little boys.  We are sick of the tv show and movie inspired ones. 

everdayjun makes these awesome Waste Free Lunch Kits complete with messenger bag style lunchbox (or bag I guess I should say), an awesome sandwhich & snack cube, a reusable bottle, and a spork.  While all of the contents are plastic they are all BPA-free and lead-free plastics.  I absolutely love the sandwich & snack cube; you can put almost anything in here (unless it’s a liquid…ick!).  The best part of the whole kit is the changeable front panel.  It’s available in 9 different patterns, each made of pvc-free laminated material.  They attach by Velcro so you can change them out as often as you like.  The bag is made of neoprene (like dive hear) and is machine washable. 

When our lunch kit arrived I even got an “awesome bag” out of my husband who said he would take this bag to work!  For those of you who don’t know us personally…he’s a manly man and doesn’t like to carry lunchboxes.  He still uses plastic grocery bags (we have to get a few each time we’re at the store just for him!) to carry his lunch in.  At least I’ve broken him of the baggie addiction. 

The everydayjun lunch kits sell for $42 for the complete kit.  This includes the bag, the cube, the bottle, the spork, and one panel of you choice.  Honestly I hate spending that much money for a lunchbox but it’s well worth the investment!  This bag has been used almost everyday since it arrived.  everdayjun also sells the pieces individually so you can add to your existing lunchbox if you prefer.

Contest period is over!

Win One!  One lucky reader is going to receive their very own Waste Free Lunch Kit from everydayjun!  You even get to choose the panel!  Leave me a comment below (mandatory) telling me which panel you would like if you won!

Extra Entries:
1.  If you read my first post about my Blogiversary you know you can earn an extra entry by leaving me a comment on that post!
2.  Facebook Fans!  If you aren’t one already become one today and leave me a comment on my Fan Wall about why you want to win a Waste Free Lunch Kit.  Leave me a comment below telling me you completed this task.
3.  Twitter Followers!  If you don’t already follow me…follow me and tweet about this contest.  You must include @TheEcoChic and a link back here.  Leave me a comment below telling me you completed this task.
4.  Add my blog button to your website or blog.  You can grab the code on the top in the right sidebar.  Leave me a comment with a link back to your page.

All Blogiversary Giveaways end on Sept. 23rd at midnight (EST).  While you may enter all of the Blogiversary giveaways you may only win one Blogiversary giveaway!  Past winners are welcome to enter and win! 

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO BE ENTERED TO WIN!

Good Luck!

Giveaway Alert!  ECOLunchboxes is giving away one free ECOLunchbag with set of 3 cloth napkins to a lucky reader.  ECO-ngratulations to Nancy!

I think I might have a lunchbox/bag addiction problem this year!  I found yet another awesome waste-free lunch system by ECOLunchboxes.  While I thought I was getting this one for my son, when it arrived I feel in love with it and I’m keeping it for myself. 

The ECOLunchbag is made of 100% cotton from fabric that has been hand block printed by artisans in India.  I prefer my products be made in the US but ECOLunchboxes takes pride in their fabric and ensures that they are made in India in a NON-sweatshop environment.  The owner, Sandra, is very proud of her product and I now know why.  It’s beautiful!  The print on the fabrics are very artfully done and the colors are so vivid.  This is a bag that I could see myself carrying around for more than just a lunch bag.

I already mentioned that it was made of 100% cotton.  There is no plastic anywhere in this bag, therefore it’s lead-free, PVC-free, vinyl-free, and BPA-free.  Since it’s all fabric it’s also machine washable.  You can purchase the ECOLunchbag as a complete kit with a stainless steel food container, bamboo spork, and set of napkins; or you can purchase the ECOLunchbag as I received mine with just the ECOLunchbag and set of napkins.  The prices range from $30-45 for these sets. 

There’s more!  It’s reversible! 

And there’s even more!  The strap is adjustable.  There is a wooden button at the bottom of the bag (and on the reversible side) that allows you to wear the ECOLunchbag as a backpack, purse, or slung over the shoulder.  This is a great feature that makes this bag functional for adults and kids.

And look at this hidden pocket (shown here on the reversible side), great for cell phone or keys!

Both ECOLunchbag kits come complete with3 reusable cloth napkins that are made from the same 100% fabric as the bag.  They measure 12″X16″ and can double as a placemat too. 

Buy It!  You know you want one of these cool ECOLunchbags, don’t you?  With every purchase at ECOLunchboxes over $30 you will receive 2 free cloth napkins.  Want even more savings?  Take the ECOLunchbox quiz on their website and earn a 10% off coupon. 

Win It!  You can win your very own ECOLunchbag with set of 3 cloth napkins.  ECO-ngratulations to Nancy!  You are the winner! Check your email!

Mandatory Entry!  Before any of the extra entries will count you must visit ECOLunchboxes and tell me your favorite color bag. 

Extra Entries:
1.  Become a Fan of ECOLunchboxes on Facebook AND write on their Wall sharing your favorite healthy lunch that you would pack in the ECOLunchbag.  Earn 5 pts for this entry.  Be sure to mention The Eco Chic in your Wall post on ECOLunchboxes.  Leave 5 comments below telling me that you completed this entry.
2.  Follow ECOLunchboxes and TheEcoChic on Twitter.  Leave a comment below with your @Name. 
3.  Tweet about this giveaway and mention @EcoLunchboxes, @TheEcoChic, and link to this giveaway.  Tweet up to 2 times per day until the contest ends.  Good for one point each.

Contest is open to residents in the US only and ends on September 7th, 2009 at midnight (EST). 

Leave your entries/comments HERE!

ECO-ngratulations Nancy! Contest is over! 

Giveaway Alert!  Litter Free Lunches is giving TWO lucky readers their very own set (of 5) of reusable cloth napkins.  (Valued at $19.99 each)  ECO-ngratulations to Tamara and Bonggamom!  You are winners!

Who can tell me what material makes up the most of our trash each day?  PAPER!  One of the easiest ways to reduce our paper waste is by switching to reusable napkins, especially in our children’s lunches.  It is estimated that if a family of 4 replaces paper napkins with cloth napkins that they can save over $70 a year AND reduce their paper waste by 40 pounds.

Litter Free Lunch is a company that was founded by a pair of moms in Illinois.  The offer a full line of napkins, including their newest, an organic cotton set.  Each set of napkins is made in the USA.  They are made of 100% cotton (or organic cotton) and measure 12″ X 12″ in size.  Each individual napkin has a sewn-in label with space for you to write your child’s name.  The napkins are machine washable.  In addition to cloth napkins, Litter Free Lunch also sells recycled lunch bags, stainless steel food containers, and water bottles.

Big B now has a wide variety of cloth napkins to use both at home and at school.  Today I asked him if he used his napkin and he said, “No!”  Upon inspection I could tell that he was acting like a normal first grader and that he actually did use it.  He’s a boy and doesn’t usually get too excited about these things but hopefully his friends will take notice and ask their moms for their own cloth napkins.  Litter Free Lunch napkins are great quality and have some really cute embroidered designs. 

An extra bonus is that Litter Free Lunch also offers fundraising options for your school.  You can download their fundraising packet from their website and present it to your child’s school. 

Buy It!  For my readers Litter Free Lunch is offereing Free Shipping from Sept. 1-Sept. 8th.  No coupon code is needed! Sets of napkins start at $19.99 each.

Win It!  Two lucky readers will win their very own Brights set (of 5) of reusable cloth napkins from Litter Free Lunch.  To enter you MUST visit Litter Free Lunch and tell me (click comment below) which set of napkins you like the best.  This entry is MANDATORY to be entered into this giveaway.  

Extra Credit!  Just like in school you can earn extra credit by doing some additional homework. 

1.  Follow both @TheEcoChic and @LitterFreeLunchon Twitter.  Leave me ONE comment below telling me that you follow us both.  Be sure to include your @Username.

2.  Tweet about the giveaway!  Be creative with your tweets but be sure to include both @TheEcoChic and @LitterFreeLunch and a link back here.  Tweet up to 2 times a day and leave a comment for each tweet.  Include a link back to your tweet.

3.  Become a Fan of The Eco Chic on Facebook and share me with your friends (link is on right side at top).  Leave me a comment here telling me your user name and that you shared with your friends and earn one extra entry.  BUT If you can get 10 of your friends to become my Fan on Facebook I will give you 5 extra entries into the contest.  Write on my Facebook wall and tell me which friends of yours became my Fans.

4.  Purchase anything from Litter Free Lunch and earn 5 extra entries.  Leave me 5 comments below telling me what you purchased and the email address you used to make the purchase (this will help me verify the entries). 

Leave your comments HERE and be sure to leave individual comments for each entry. 

Contest is open to residents in the USA and will close on September 1, 2009 at midnight (EST).

ECO-ngratulations to Tamara and Bonggamom!  You are winners!

Have fun and WIPE YOUR FACE!  Just be sure to do it with a cloth napkin!           

Reader Special! Purchase anything from Kids Konserve from now until the end of Sept. 09 and save 15% using coupon code ecochic.

If you read my post earlier about Waste-Free Lunches you will know that I have been working on making our own lunches more waste free.  The best place to start is with the lunch box which is the easy step.  How about taking it one step further and purchase a complete waste-free lunch kit?

Kids Konserve is a company right here in the USA that sells these cute lunch kits complete with lunch sack, cloth napkin, stainless steel beverage bottle, food cozy and 2 stainless steel food containers.  The complete kits start at $40 or you can purchase each item individually.  The signature lunch kits have a cotton sack while some of their newer lunch sacks are made from 100% recycled water bottles. 

My favorite item in each kit is the Food Cozy.  These reusable, food-grade wraps are a good alternative to baggies and plastic wrap.  They can be sealed with a strip of Velcro and can be hand-washed to be reused the next day.  Food Cozies are on sale during their Back To School Special for 25% off. 

This year I am serving on the PTA and helping make my sons school a little more GREEN!  While Waste-Free Lunches is on the agenda, it’s not our first priority.  We are currently working to get recycling set up in the classrooms and offices.  Once we get the recycling set up we can then promote Waste-Free Lunch days.  Kids Konserve holds challenges for schools to help them promote going waste-free.  One way to promote Waste-Free Lunches is through fundraising.  Kids Konserve has a complete school fundraising package available online.  Schools can earn 10% back for each purchase of Kids Konserve products.  One thing that I hope to promote by the middle of the year is a Trash-Free Tuesday.  You can find other ways to promote Waste-Free Lunches on the Kids Konserve website.

What’s your favorite Kids Konserve product?

GIVEAWAY ALERT!  Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for the fourth contest and a great coupon code as part of The Eco-Summer Blog Party!

CONGRATULATIONS STWILLIAMS07@XXXXXXX You are the winner of the To-Go Ware gift set!

Happy 4th of July from The Eco Chic, To-Go Ware, and Green Planet Parties!  The 4th for many of us will be filled with backyard BBQ’s, pool parties, and fireworks.  Along with all that fun comes tons of unnecessary waste.  When most of us host get-togethers at our homes (or anywhere) we typically run to the store and stock up on disposable tableware (plates, cups, cutlery, napkins, etc) for our guests.  Anyone want to venture to guess how long most of these items get used?  Less than 5 minutes…think about this today while you celebrate the 4th with your friends and family. 

About a year ago I invested in some cheap reusable plastic plates and cups for a party we were hosting at the house.  We tend to host several of these parties each year and I decided it was time to find an alternative to the disposable items we typically used.  Now I know that plastic is not perfect…I’m learning all about BPA and all the other evils of plastics…but it was a step in the right direction.  It was reasonably priced at our local big box retailer so I purchased about 30 of each.  We already had a spare set of cutlery from a camping trip a few years ago.  Party day arrived and I was all excited to use our new tableware but I wasn’t prepared for the reaction from the guests.  I actually had one dear friend throw the plate in the garbage.  I had several guests pitty me for the dishes I was going to have to wash later that night.  But after a few hand slappings and a few parties later they have grown to accept my plastic plates and cups…I honestly think they even like them…but they would never admit that to me.  After all, they are durable and there will be no soggy plates at our parties.  

Did you know that most plastics take 10-100 years to degrade at the landfill?  And since plastic is made from petroleum, as it breaks down it releases this petroleum into our environment.  Yes, most landfills are safe and prevent these chemicals from reaching our groundwater but how much of the litter along our roadways and beaches are plastic cutlery?  Look around you!  What you might not know is that there are kinder options available.  

Green Planet Parties is a great online retailer that offers eco-friendly decorations, tableware, gifts, and goodie bags.  I’m impressed with the reusable cotton and felt table clothes, banners, and goodie bags that they sell.  They sent me a great kit to sample and I can’t wait until we host our next party.  Their Party in a (Reusable) Bag is a great alternative to the disposables we’ve enjoyed for years.  The Party in a Bag contains 25 bowls, cups, cutlery sets, and 50 napkins.  What makes this different is that everything is compostable and recyclable.  The plates (almost a bowl shape) are made from palm leaves.  They almost look too nice to actually throw away.  The cutlery and cups are made from PolyActide (PLA) plastics that are typically made from corn or potato starches.  The napkins are made from 100% recycled materials and they even include an oxo-degradable garbage bag.  These items should safely decompose within 12-24 months of time in the landfill leaving no toxins or waste behind.  All of the items are shipped in a very cute (and totally reusable) cotton bag for easy storage.  Unfortunately the bag will come in handy for storage as our 4th of July plans have changed and we won’t be hosting a party this year.  When we do get a chance to use them I will be sure to follow up here and let you know what the guests thought of the Party in a Bag.  What’s the next big holiday?  Who’s having a birthday or anniversary?  Parties at our house!

Now I know that compostable items such as this are not 100% eco-friendly but it’s better than disposable.  Just like my own transition to reusable plates and cups the items from Green Planet Parties will help people make greener decisions when they host their parties.  There are many shades of Green and I consider the Party in a Bag the lime green action!  For those of you darker green readers I have another alternative.  

Do you carry your reusable bottles and bags with you?  Well why not carry your own utensil set?  To-Go Ware offers reusable utensil sets that are easy for you to take with you.  The RePEaTutensil sets have bamboo flatware and chopsticks that are neatly packaged in a sheath made from recycled PET plastic (RePEaT).  In addition it has a very clever carabiner(clip) on the back of the sheath so you can hook it anywhere.  I’m going to start hooking it to my reusable water bottle.  I mentioned they were made from bamboo right?  What’s so special about bamboo?  Is it washable?  Can you reuse it?  Well bamboo is a very eco-friendly plant that is easy to harvest, incredibly durable and dishwasher safe.  

To-Go Ware also offers items that are more for personal use than for parties such as the stainless steel tiffins and sidekicks.  It’s like a reusable steel lunch box for adults…ok, we’ll let the kids use them too.  The containers are all made of 200 grade stainless food grade steel and are dishwasher safe.  Since they are steel they can be heated using the oven, stove, toaster and even over a campfire.  You might be asking me why steel versus plastic…as you may know, most plastics contain BPA and phthalates that can leech into your food.  I have a friend of mine who will speak more about plastics and BPA later in the party.  I have a lot to learn!

Giveaway!  1. Green Planet Parties is offering 10% off your entire purchase with a coupon code for readers of the Eco-Summer Blog Party.  Coupon Code ECO CHICis valid until July 31, 2009.  Please be sure to follow @Greenpla on Twitter but tell your friends to visit The Eco Chic to get the coupon code!  CONTEST PERIOD IS OVER BUT COUPONS ARE STILL ACTIVE!  CONGRATULATIONS STWILLIAMS07 2.  To-Go Wareis offering one lucky reader (US Residents only please) their own RePEaTutensil set along with one of each the large and small sidekicks (a $23 value).  All you have to do is subscribe (BELOW) to recieve updates from The Eco Chic in your email inbox.  You can earn extra entries by following @theecochic and @togoware on Twitter and Facebook.  Be sure to leave a comment HERE for each extra entry you earn (include your username for verification).  The To-Go Ware contest will end on Monday, July 6th at midnight (EST).  3.  To-Go Ware is also offering a 10% off coupon code for readers who want to purchase their own utensils and sidekicks.  Coupon Code ECOCHIC10 is valid until August 31, 2009.

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