Category Archives: Eco-Friendly Company Profiles

Kind Toys: Eco-Friendly Toys and Games in the UK

Posted on September 23, 2010 | Leave a comment

Trying to Be Eco-Friendly With Kids

Eco-Cradle at Kind Toys UK

Eco-Cradle at Kind Toys UK

If becoming more eco-conscious has been on your to-do list for the last several years, and you’re a mommy or a daddy, or even a grandparent for that matter, then you know the all-too-obvious truth — it’s tough to be eco-friendly when you’re constantly giving gifts and surprises to the babies. But there are options!

We’ve talked about recycling gift-wrapping, especially things like bows and ribbons. We’ve discussed creating Christmas cards out of the ones that you received. But what about companies who specifically make baby and child products for eco-sensible families? They exist! And if you’re in the UK, then we’d like to send you over to investigate Kind Toys: Eco-Friendly Toys and Games by premiere manufacturers in the UK.

According to the website, which appears to still be undergoing some tweaking an development, “Kind Toys is the online toy shop for all your needs in children toys that will not cost the earth in more ways than one.” Taking a look around, there appears to be a great line of products, toys and games already up, with special deals for shipping around the UK, as well. Continue reading →

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Motel 6 Chain Goes Green

Posted on September 11, 2010 | Leave a comment

Affordable Motels for Travelers Taking a Shot at Being Eco-Friendly

Motel 6 Green PolicyThis past weekend, we were called to the road, and made the long trek from Portland to San Francisco. Stopping halfway (or slightly more than halfway), we found that the cheapest way to do this was to stay overnight in Redding at the Motel 6. A no-frills motel chain that typically offers the best prices for travelers needing no more than a night in any given city, regardless of the size of that city, Motel 6 has been a go-to staple of the modern business traveler. If you’re hitting the road as a musician or a touring writer, then you also, most likely, have taken advantage of the no-frills, super cheap stay. Which brings me to my green point.

When a company gets as enmeshed in society, and has as many locations as a nation-wide motel chain like Motel 6, do they have some kind of corporate social responsibility to maintain some kind of eco-friendly principles? While this may not be majority opinion, sadly, by any stretch of the imagination, this does seem to represent the decision of corporate people behind Motel 6. During our stay in the motel this weekend, I noticed this handy little green card, detailing the eco-friendly policies of Motel 6. Continue reading →

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MetroPaint: 100% Recycled Latex Paint in Oregon

Posted on August 26, 2010 | Leave a comment
MetroPaint Recycled Latex in Oregon

MetroPaint Recycled Latex in Oregon

Advertising in the weekly paper Willamette Week, is an interesting company that appears to be run by the Oregon Metro government office. The ad reads: “What’s Green Seal certified and comes in colors from barn red to summer-sky blue? MetroPaint 100% recycled latex paint. Better for the environment. Great for your home. Just $11 or less per gallon.” There is a simple, boxed image of a gallon of paint, the ad is unfortunately and oddly (budgetary constraints?) in black and white, and the MetroPaint graphic is imprinted on the side, with the text in heavy bold: “$11 or less per gallon!”

Ads like this always catch my eye. Brands that market themselves as eco-friendly and cost effective seem to have a leg up in the marketplace, and I thought I’d present the info here in this post. The ad goes on to say, “Available at MetroPaint, Miller Paint stores, select Fred Meyer stores and participating independent dealers.” Continue reading →

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Rapanui Clothing Company Introduction

Posted on July 23, 2010 | 1 Comment

Sustainable Clothing From the Isle of Wight: Meet Easy Ways Readers

Rapanui Offices

Rapanui Offices

This is a first here at Easy Ways to Go Green. We have found a great company, the Rapanui Clothing company in the UK on the Isle of Wight, and we invited them to introduce themselves to our readers. They seem like a bunch of really friendly people who have put together something they love, something we all need, and something that is responsible in terms of its planet-mindedness.

“Rapanui is a small business based on the Isle of Wight, southern England. We are a fashion company with a difference, in that we are an eco-fashion company. Rapanui was set up by brothers Mart and Rob Drake-Knight in early 2008; the brothers are now aged 23 and 25 respectively. The company was set up with £200 of their own savings. Through surfing, they saw and experienced the changing environment and climate at their local beach and as inspired, unemployed graduates in a recession, they took a different path; if you can’t find a job, make one. The aim at Rapanui still is to inform through the brand and mix eco with trend – to make it fashionable for people to go green.” Continue reading →

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Northwest Natural Gas: Serving Sustainably in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on July 21, 2010 | Leave a comment

Use Less, Offset the Rest: Smart Gas in Oregon

NW Natural Smart Energy Program

NW Natural Smart Energy Program

According to NW Natural, they are officially “taking responsibility to plan for our customer’s sustainable energy future,” and their Smart Energy program assumes a significant portion of that lofty plan. As the company transitions over to a more sustainable model that is friendlier on the environment, they have also commited to “reducing fossil fuel impact on local and global environments today.” They plan to continue “promoting more efficient energy use and environmental stewardship,” and in order to accomplish this, “NW Natural is doing its part to limit carbon emissions and slow or stop the greenhouse effect,” which they acknowledge openly as a element contributing negatively to global climate change.

More from the NW Natural website: “In 2007, we became our own first Smart Energy customer, when we signed up for the program. We committed to offsetting 100 percent of the CO2 associated with our natural gas heating use for the next five years. We estimate our Smart Energy participation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 6,160 tons of CO2. With additional contributions from customers like you, together we can offset thousands of tons of carbon dioxide.” Continue reading →

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Shipping Carbon Neutral With UPS

Posted on July 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

New Carbon Neutral Shipping Procedures From UPS

Carbon Neutral Shipping with UPS

Carbon Neutral Shipping with UPS

Shipping company UPS now offers what they refer to as “carbon neutral shipping option.” So exactly how does UPS ship packages in a way that is effectively carbon neutral?

UPS offers an option for the eco-conscious business person, as the environment becomes increasingly more of a priority for businesses operating in the current climate, both planet- and economy-wise. In order to maintain a carbon neutral standard for its environmentally-conscious shipping standard, UPS purchases certified carbon (CO2) credits in order to offset the emissions produced by the transportation of their customers’ shipments.

According to UPS, “These offset credits become available when another organization’s project yields less CO2 or other greenhouse gases than would otherwise occur.” The carbon neutral option isn’t just a “trust us” type of option, either. It seems that the carbon neutral distinction for your traveling shipments is verified by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), a company that does testing, inspection, and verification for various businesses. Continue reading →

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