ecosystem is a newer line of earth friendly planners and journals (or books as they call them) that are easily personalized. Ecosystem was further designed to empower environmentally aware product owners. Each book has a unique book ID number, which you can use to track a book’s origins, learn how they are environmentally-friendly, and to find out exactly how to recycle each book.

How it works:

You head to ecosystem and choose a book type – ecosystem Advisor, ecosystem Architect, ecosystem Artist, or ecosystem Author.
You choose a cover style.
You choose a size.
You choose the color. Current colors available include the ones shown …read more

So, I haven’t always been perfect about buying fully recycled toilet paper. Mainly because of costs. With kids you go through a lot and recycled is almost always more expensive in my neck of the woods. However traditional, non-recycled toilet paper is terrible for the environmental so it is one of those products you should always buy green.
Secondly, when I do buy recycled toilet paper I don’t have major issues. It’s toilet paper not bedding. I don’t care that it’s not 100% cushy and mattress like.
That said I have a boyfriend who recently compared Marcal recycled toilet paper to a …read more

You can recycle magazines – even glossy mags, just toss them in your bins after checking with your local recycling center. However, since it takes energy and trees to make magazines and because it also uses energy to recycle them, you may as well get some good mileage out of them first. Following are some goods ways to reuse the magazines you’ve got…

Donate – many schools, community centers, homeless shelters, and other organizations would be happy to take your magazines. Don’t forget about your pals and family members too.
Make a nice full color cookbook on the cheap.
Help your kiddos to …read more

Remember the very cool Green Toy Giveaway we had here last year? Well, Green Toys just introduced their new spring line, and they’ve got some great new toys available. I like the new line a lot because it really encourages your kids to get outside with fun toys like a jump rope with recycled handles and a recycled ecosaucer flying disc.

Like all Green Toys, this new collection is made with recycled milk jugs. Other new toys include a recycling truck, dump truck, and adorable play tool set. Go see all of them. Oh, and speaking of giveaways, we’ve got one …read more

Reusable bags make awesome holiday gifts. You can stuff them with candy treats or cookies, and this is a gift that can be, and actually will be used for years and years. You can help your friends and family stay green or go green with a great bag.
I found some really nice reusable bag options – pretty ones that would make great gifts this year…

Wild Flowers Organic Cotton Eco Lunch Bag from Art And Philanthropy

Product: Revenge Is…  t-shirts
Basics: The Revenge Is… t-shirts I received were created with plastic bottles! That’s right folks, recycled plastic bottles. On their website, Revenge Is… notes that these shirts are recycled plastic bottles that have been melted down to become a fine yarn which is then blended with organic cotton. They also call their shirts “soft and silky” which is exactly what I would have told someone about them, if they hadn’t said it first. They also offer a 100% organic cotton t-shirts – which are supposed to offer a more relaxed fit; although, I thought the bottle …read more

I’m sure a light went off in MariposaAvenue’s head when she thought of this cute cupcake night light, available at Etsy.

The design is cut by hand from a soup can! Sweet.
I also adore this dainty flower night light.

Search MariposaAvenue’s shop for more recycled creations.
(Images via MariposaAvenue/Etsy.)
Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in September 2008

Remind those who pass by your abode what a beautiful planet we inhabit.
Progressive Kid offers this Earth Flag made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Two sizes available.

Have you ever thought of hanging an Earth flag?
Flag image via Progressive Kid.
Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

Modern Recycled Cardboard Stag Deer Mount
Bizarre, right? I can’t decide whether hunters who went home empty-handed are really buying these. Maybe it’s folks like me who want to make fun of it. Hmmm, still not sure I could hang one in my living room.

It’s only natural that birdhouses should blend in with the environment instead of taking away from it. That’s why I like recycled birdhouses so much.
Birdie homes made of recycled materials are available from a variety of sources. One interesting place to shop is the Recycled Birdhouse Company. The one-of-a-kind birdhouses are constructed from recycled materials by artists with disabilities, residents of Brown’s Foster Home in Maine. Here are a couple of the birdhouses:

I love the choices for perches. These houses look like something I’d feature on Junk Creation.
If you’re looking for a little something for the kids, you might try …read more