Look at these placemats!

The new Eco-Ware line from Lightly – 100% recycled cork and rubber placemats and coasters. Heat resistant, made of reconstituted wine corks, biodegradable, and lovely. In fact, so lovely I think you could even use them for your green wedding! Designs include Tree, Club, and Sophia – all are very cool, but I like the tree design above best.

Sophia coasters and mats:

See, I always told everyone that brown is beautiful – why everyone goes for red and blue is beyond me. See many more amazing objects at Lightly.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008[images via Lightly]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

I saw them first on Inhabitat a couple of days ago. It seems that these babies aren’t really for sale yet as far as I can tell, but they did win a prize in the Dining in 2015 contest by designbloom.

I understand and applaud the idea of not using flimsy plastic forks at the office. And these fork, knife and spoon caps are biodegradable and made from natural starch and fiber, but you stick them on the end of your pen. It looks like the Italian designers had Bic pens in mind.

How strange. All I can think of is germs, germs, germs. Sure the fork cap may be clean, but your handle is a pen that you use all day. I’d want to clean the pen too.

It seems to me that it would be just as easy to have some biodegradable whole forks and spoons at your desk if you must use fake silverware. Why attach it to a pen?

And, what’s wrong with taking a real fork and spoon from home to reuse at the office?

What do you think? A bit greenwashy or useful and innovative?

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Even before the spring gardening season arrives, it’s time to think about alternatives to those plastic pots. I’ve been wanting to write about the Paper Potter since I happened across it a last week, but when I also saw Linette’s post on biodegradable Cowpots at Mother Earth’s Garden, I was even more inspired.

I love the idea of being able to put a pot in the earth and have it biodegrade — no worries about damaging roots and no plastic waste.

So, what’s a Paper Potter? It was created by Nether Wallop Trading Co. in the UK. This wooden recycler is made from sustainable sources and transforms old newspapers into paper pots. The pots hold up to watering since they are allowed to dry out, but once in the earth, the newspaper pot biodegrades.

Even if you don’t grow your own plants, you can recommend this product to a farmer at your local farmer’s market or even make some paper pots of your own to give away. Many farmers do grow their own plants, and they spend lots of money on those plastic planters.

Nether Wallop Trading Co. ships outside of the UK. You can also order the Paper Potter from another UK company, Garden Boutique.

Image from Garden Boutique.

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However, while it makes sense to use real silverware at a smaller, or even mid-sized event like a family reunion picnic it’s tough to imagine using real silverware say at an art fair or other mass attendance event. But there another option besides plastic.

This Jaya high-heat potato starch silverware is made from potato starch and is 100% biodegradable and compostable. It takes about 45-60 days to decompose at a commercial compost facility and is rugged; withstanding heat up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s a good deal too if you want disposable for an event. It’ll cost you just over $50 for 10 packs of 100 per carton which can be a little more costly than plastic but not too bad when you consider the positive aspects this has for the earth. They’re created by Eco-Products who makes an array of wonderful disposable yet biodegradable items.

If you used these for a big event it would be easy to set up bins for people to toss them in. (With BIG signs).

You can pick some up from the Office Supply Superstore or at Eco-Products.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family