23 Products That Will Save the Planet (or at least won't hurt it)
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Preserve's toothbrushes and razors are made from completely recycled and recyclable materials. The handles are made of polypropylene, which is available in many sources of post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled plastics, labeled #5. Recycline gets its propylene primarily from recycled Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups.
Spudware is a line of utensils made from corn and potato starch. The forks, spoons, and knives are as durable as plastic flatware -- they can even withstand boiling water without damage. However, unlike petroleum-based plastics, Spudware will biodegrade after a few months of composting.
New Belgium's flagship beer is an amber ale with toasty malt flavors and a crisp hoppiness. In 1998, the Fort Collins, Colo.-based brewery became the first in the nation to be powered entirely by wind. Now it uses a combination of wind power and thermal energy.
Teko's socks are made only from organic cotton, wool from a farm that uses sustainable practices, or recycled polyester made from old soda bottles and industrial waste. The dyes are environmentally safe, and packaging is made from recycled chipboard.
Vivavi only sells environmentally friendly furniture made from sustainable or recycled materials. In their Brooklyn, N.Y. showroom you can see this modern loveseat, made from solid maple and automotive seatbelts. All the adhesives are water-based and non-toxic.
Voltaic's shoulder bag is made from recycled plastic and comes equipped with three solar panels. Lightweight and waterproof, the panels generate as much as 4 watts of power -- enough to charge cell phones, PDAs, iPods, and cameras, but not laptops.
The newest eco-friendly home designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs and Sunset Magazine is manufactured off-site, virtually eliminating construction waste. With ample decks and a glass-enclosed porch in the center, the modern design blurs the boundary between the interior and exterior.
Stonyfield started as a seven-cow organic farming school and has grown to become the nation's third-largest yogurt brand. The company donates 10 percent of the profits from its yogurt, milk, and other organic products to earth-friendly causes.
Planks of wood from Collins Cos. carry the FSC stamp, indicating that they have the approval of the Forest Stewardship Council. These trees were harvested using techniques that insure the long-term viability of the forest.
PreKote is used to treat metal surfaces, including airplanes, before they are painted, to prevent corrosion. It is a non-toxic alternative to other chemicals on the market. Pantheon's clients Boeing and the U.S. Air Force.
The Colossal burger from Burgerville is made from organic beef and processed in facilities that run on renewable energy sources like wind power. The family-owned company was founded in 1922 and now operates 39 burger-and-shake shacks in Oregon and Washington.
These nutritional bars are made with organic ingredients, such as Blueberry Crisp and Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch. The company's operation in Berkeley, Calif., has shifted to recyclable materials and green energy.
Interface's carpet tiles use recycled materials from consumer products and old carpet, as well as biodegradable corn-based polymers. Founded 33 years ago, Interface is the world's first industrial firm devoted to sustainability -- "taking nothing from the earth that is not rapidly and naturally renewable, and doing no harm to the biosphere," according to founder Ray Anderson.
Eden's soy milk comes from organic processes and is available in several flavors, including vanilla and chocolate. The company began as a farming co-op that wanted truly green offerings.
Extengine wants to be the world's smog fighter. By injecting urea into a vehicle's exhaust system, old diesel-powered trucks, like this one, are retrofit to cut smog-emissions by as much as 90 percent.
Not only are this Rutherford, Calif., winery's grapes organic, but they're also grown using a water-saving dry farming method. The vineyard varietals include everything from Chardonnay to Syrah.
Adaptable to a wide variety of everyday uses, Konarka's light-activated power plastic is flexible, lightweight, and far cheaper than typical silicon-based solar cells. The rechargers can be used for laptops and cell phones.
The nation's first green cemetery, Ramsey Creek Preserve is located on 36 acres in Westminster, S.C., and offers final resting places without the usual fancy caskets or harmful embalming chemicals.
Using nanotechnology, this company creates a kind of photovoltaic ink that converts sunlight into electricity on thin sheets of foil, instead of bulky conventional solar panels. When a factory now under construction is completed, it will produce a million solar panels a year.
Prometheus catches methane from this Orange County, Calif., landfill and produces some 5,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas a day. That's the equivalent of taking 127,161 cars off the road and planting 181,205 acres of trees.
This cherry two-seater hits 60 miles per hour in just four seconds -- as fast as a Ferrari, but, at $100,000, considerably cheaper. And since it's also electric, it can travel as far as 250 miles on a three and a half hour charge.
Using the power of natural currents and tides, 200 windmill-like turbines, like this one, submerged under New York's East River could generate enough electricity for 8,000 households. And that's exactly what Verdant Power is planning to do.
The nation's largest car-sharing service, with outlets from San Francisco to Washington, lets members use cars only when they need them. That's kept 30,000 drivers from buying (and polluting with) their own cars.
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