TerraCycle’s Upcycling Valentine’s Day Program

Once again TerraCycle is at the forefront of upcycling and reusing products for a brighter future for all of us. They are ready for Valentine’s Day with a few DIY upcycling ideas.

While cleaning up trash doesn’t seem like a romantic way to spend the day, you can celebrate the holiday and effect real-world change with special Valentine’s Day items, products and decorations in Trash Tycoon, Facebook’s first upcycling game from Guerillapps and TerraCycle. In the game, you can clean up trash and upcycle it to fun products like necklaces, Valentine’s Day cards and heart shaped wreaths to send to friends or to decorate your town. Players’ hearts will swell because Trash Tycoon creates positive social impact by donating 10% of in-game dollars to environmental projects sponsored by CarbonFund.org.

Next, love Mother Earth and your Valentine by making an upcycled necklace out of Kraft Cheese wrappers or chocolate wrappers, just like the necklace in Trash Tycoon! TerraCycle’s Design Junkies have brought the beaded necklace into the real world with simple, do-it-yourself instructions available for download here: bit.ly/ValentineBraceletDIY, these bracelets are sure to be a hit with children of all ages while also educating them on the importance of recycling and upcycling. You can also check out this video for step-by-step instructions:

Finally, Valentine’s Day and candy go together like peas and carrots, but the packaging can be a real heartbreaker. All those red and pink wrappers left over from sweet treats can be sent to TerraCycle through Mars’ Candy Wrapper Brigade to be recycled and earn money for charity. Signing up is free and easy at www.terracycle.com.

About TerraCycle:
TerraCycle, Inc. is an international upcycling and recycling company that takes difficult-to recycle-packaging and turns it into affordable, innovative products.  Founded in 2001, TerraCycle (www.terracycle.com) is the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. TerraCycle works with more than 30 major brands in the U.S. and around the world to collect used packaging and products that would otherwise be destined for landfills. It repurposes that waste into new, innovative materials and products that are available online and through major retailers. The waste is collected through TerraCycle’s Brigade programs, which are free fundraisers that pay for every piece of waste collected and returned. For information on how to join a TerraCycle Brigade and on purchasing TerraCycle products please visit www.terracycle.com.

Guest Post: Be Plastic-Smart: Remember to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

Plastic is one of the most convenient materials to use, but it’s also one of the least recycled items on the planet. Plastic is non-biodegradable and virtually indestructible, so the presence of plastic in landfills only add to existing pollution, and these discarded materials can stay there for years and years. And while we can’t stop using plastic altogether because of its multitude of practical uses (plus, an Austrian study by a consultancy called Denkstatt shows that replacing plastic packaging with alternatives would triple the total packaging mass, and would use twice as much energy in producing), we should take measures in helping reduce discarded plastic in landfills all over the world (the Environmental Protection Agency reports that almost 3 trillion plastic bags were used in the US in just 2009-2011).

Recycling and reusing isn’t as difficult as it seems. Developing the habit of doing this would not only benefit the environment, but would help foster a positive attitude about things in general. Here are some tips to help you start getting into the green habit:

Check the packaging. A lot of companies are now very environment-conscious, and have started using packaging made of recycled content. The recycled content and recyclability of the item can also be found on the packaging, so checking before you put anything the shopping cart helps you find better options.

Think ‘reusability’. Resourcefulness is a trait that is not only practical and smart; it can also be good for the environment. You might not realize it now, but there are a lot of everyday things we purchase that can be reused or even repurposed, especially plastic items. From storage to do-it-yourself scour pads, there are a lot of ways to reuse household items. Plus, this environment-friendly practice saves you a lot of money too! Why buy something from the store when you already have what you need at home?

If you don’t need it, don’t use it. Conservation is key. We use a lot of resources in our day-to-day lives, and sometimes we take them for granted. Water and electricity, for example, are essential things in our lives. Turn off the lights and other electric items, and shut off faucets when not in use. In the same way, if you can use alternative items instead of plastic, use them instead. Go shopping with a reusable bag or opt for a paper bag instead of plastic. Think of plastic as an item that should be used only when needed. This way you can reduce the need for plastic items daily.

There are a lot of ways you can help reduce plastic pollution. From choosing plastic alternatives to purchasing items made out of recycled materials (such as plastic garbage bags with 80% recycled content from PlasticPlace.net), you can easily come up with your own environment-conscious practices to suit your lifestyle.

Product Review: Exclusive Goddess Eco Jewelry

Recently Exclusive Goddess, a company which strives to be environmentally responsible without compromising fashion, style, design and trend sent me an Andromeda necklace to review. They also sent me a pair of coffee beans and chocho diamond seeds earrings I will also mention below. I usually do the reviews myself, but in this case I thought it would be best to bring in a ringer, my wife.

First off, products from Exclusive Goddess are all handmade, and died with natural products, non toxic. The seeds are handpicked after they naturally fall to the ground. For each set sold a tree is planted through Mokugift to help the UNEP in the Billion Tree Campaign. Customers choose where they want their tree planted. For more information about how to Plant a Tree Today and to join UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign visit Mokugift http://www.mokugift.com/tree_island/vertesexy.

Andromeda: The necklace is tie-style with macramé, acid seeds, tagua petals and a totumo centerpiece for an elegant and sophisticated look. Sliding knot graduates the desired length each person wants. Tagua nut or vegetable ivory, is a palm native of the tropical rainforests of South America. Tagua is usually found in groups in swampy territory within the forest.

My wife has worn this necklace at work and has received several compliments. "Where did you get that? I want one!" As well as “What is their website?" are two of the most popular comments. My wife likes jewelry that is unique and attractive. She is a big fan of the Andromeda.

Pair of coffee beans and chocho diamond seeds: Coffee plants produce clusters of coffee cherries. They become bright red when they are ripped and ready to be picked. Diamond chocho is a seed from the Amazonian region of Columbia, is red and shaped like a domed saucer

My wife is a big fan of Louisville Cardinal athletics and their colors are red and black. She likes the red that pops out from the chocho diamond seeds in these earrings. She wears these earrings to the games to show of her support. They match the rest of her Louisville Cardinal ensemble.

Exclusive Goddess™ eco-initiatives include reduced toxicity in products, products have minimal or no artificial materials, energy efficiency in office and production, recycled content, manufactured with minimal environmental impact, reusability, eco-friendly packaging.

Exclusive Goddess™ is also dedicated to supporting the artisans that make all their ecoaccessories possible. Most of them are women head of households and members of ethnic and marginized communities. Is an integral component of their mission of job creation, community empowerment and economic revitalization to ensure non-discrimination on opportunities for small businesses and especially small disadvantaged business, operated by women, disabled veterans, and those located in historically underutilized business zones. Exclusive Goddess is a fair trade jewelry company. They support ethical and fair business practices.

My wife and I both recommend Exclusive Goddess and their eco jewelry. They make great unique products for anyone who loves jewelry. They also are eco conscious with the materials they use and planting trees along the way. Find out more about Exclusive Goddess below.

Website:: http://www.ExclusiveGoddess.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/XclusiveGoddess

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Exclusive-Goddess/227439163959785

"Help! My Closet Needs a Makeover" Contest by Sweet Home Solutions

Is your unruly closet getting the best of you? Do you think your closet could use some professional help? Let Home Sweet Solutions be the judge in our "Help! My Closet Needs a Makeover!" Contest – winner will receive a $1000 Lowe’s Gift Card!

It’s easy to enter – just visit Home Sweet Solutions and upload a photo of your closet in its most dire state for the chance to win! Entries will be accepted through January 31, and winners will be chosen the first week of February, so enter now, and get your friends and family to vote today!

Once your closet is cleaned out, don't forget to donate or reuse your used clothing.

Guest Post: Eco Friendly Wedding Trends for 2012

Your special day doesn’t have to hurt the earth. You can make your wedding safe for the environment by considering a number of green strategies that are continuing to grow in popularity this year as more and more people become aware of their impact on the earth. Ponder these trends for an eco-friendly wedding while planning your own.

The rings. Controversial mining practices have been all over the news lately, which has made many happy couples uncomfortable with the thought of using rings that might contain gems that come from unethical or destructive mining practices. Titanium has become a popular alternative to diamonds, but if precious stones are a must, consider antique jewelry, which is also in vogue, and is classic as well as romantic. Many people are going traditional and using heirloom rings that belonged to relatives or ancestors.

E-vites. Though it may offend your older guests, younger generations are perfectly comfortable with online invitations and wedding websites. This can be a free service that is also environmentally sound and allows you to send a link to your guests that tells them about you and your partner as well as all the details of the wedding. E-vites and websites also save on postage as well as the energy required to deliver traditional invitations. However, if you are more traditionally minded, you can send invites that utilize recycled paper and vegetable or soy-based inks. No one will know the difference.

Outdoor weddings. Holding an outdoor ceremony and reception is all the rage. You reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy the benefits of natural light at the same time. If you choose a location that is lush with natural flowers and vegetation, you help the environment by not purchasing flower arrangements that will only be thrown away once the ceremony is over. You also save emissions and travel expenses that impact the environment if you hold an outdoor wedding that is closer to home.

Attire. The trend of wearing your mother’s wedding dress has come back into style. Some women are even wearing a gown that belonged to their grandmother or great-grandmother. If you’d rather come up with a style that is all your own, you can shop online for a used wedding dress to suit your needs. Many businesses specialize in recycled dresses that you can alter to create a gown imbued with your own individual style. Tuxedos are on the way out; many men are simply wearing a nice button-up shirt and slacks, with the possible addition of a tie. You can help out your bridesmaids by selecting cocktail dresses as bridesmaid gowns that they can wear again at other functions, and encourage your groomsmen to select outfits from their own wardrobe that are similarly styled and colored.

Photography. Most people these days are hiring photographers who will provide a digital selection of shots that the happy couple can select and print themselves. This saves you money as well as the use of harmful chemicals used in developing and paper for printing.

A green wedding still allows you to have your happy day without sacrificing any of your aesthetics or personal style and is environmentally conscious at the same time.

Carol Montrose writes for Los Willows, the premier company for wedding packages in San Diego.