Woolly Vagabond Handbag Lets You Take Nature To Lunch | 3BL Media

For those on the fashion edge, there’s a new accessory on the market that will let you dote on your plant friends just as much as Paris Hilton dotes on her little dog. The Woolly Vagabond living handbag lets you carry a little nature with you wherever you go.

The Vagabond plant purse is made from breathable felt sides constructed out of recycled plastic bottles. It also has a moisture barrier made up of 60 percent recycled plastic bottles. It doesn’t come with a plant, unfortunately, you’ll have to provide that yourself. But if you have a favorite that you just can’t stand to leave at home alone, this is the purse for you.

Once safely nestled into your Vagabond, your favorite foliage-friend becomes a beautifully cascading eco-fashion accessory, neatly tucked into a basket made from recycled leather handles.

When not sporting around town on your arm, it can gracefully hang from the ceiling or stand on any table. Best of all, people will gaze curiously when you pull your wallet from underneath the lush foliage. I guess that takes the idea of burying your money to a whole new level.

But seriously, it is a cute bag and a novel idea. I wonder how heavy it is, especially after watering. But with spring about to, uhh, spring, this new look might catch on. The Woolly Vagabond will look great with a sweet dress and flats. But I can’t really see it riding the metro in a business suit, no matter what the website describes.

The Vagabond is the brain-child of Miguel Nelson, who also brought us Woolly Pockets, a low-stress, contained gardening option. He was inspired by the French gardens he and his wife have visited over the years.

If you decide to leave your leafy friend at home, you can purchase an optional hanging system for your Vagabond separately. It has a circular reclaimed wood base with a brass hanging chain.

If you do pop for the $140 the Vagabond will set you back, I can’t imagine why you’d leave it behind. It may not be the most expensive handbag on the market, but I think it will qualify as the “greenest.” Unless you decide to fill it with daisies.

Via Mother Nature Network

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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Recycling and Conserving tips from Susan Saint James | 3BL Media

Susan Saint James, actress and activist shares some of her recycling and conservation tips with Melissa McGinnis and GreenopolisTV. Known for TV roles like Kate and Allie, Susan has also been known to being a bit “green”. She says she has been carrying a re-usable tote around since she named her children Sunshine and Harmony over 30 years ago. Susan hopes to inspire another generation to do the “right thing” by sharing her tips…Thanks Susan!

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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‘Reclaimed’ For One-of-a-Kind Creepy Art | 3BL Media

The message behind Kris Kuksi‘s art.

Sometimes you find something on the web (like this guy’s artwork) and you just want to pass it on to the people you know who would appreciate it–you! In this case, that would be the mixed media sculptural work of Kris Kuksi. Kuksi’s work is deep and dark, constructed from random objects like toys and mechanical parts. While some of the elements are bought new, Kuksi also finds himself in antique stores ‘reclaiming’ the old for his masterpieces. But what’s even more compelling is the inspiration and conception behind some of his pieces–as Kuksi put it in an e-mail to me, “they are social commentary about what the future would be like if man isn’t careful with the environment.” His art has been featured worldwide and can also be found in many private collections such as those of Nike CEO Mark Parker and musician Fred Durst. Check out his site to see them closer up.

By GawkyGreen of TwoGirlsGoGreen

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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Let There Be Light With The Gaon Trash Powered Street Lamp | 3BL Media

Lee has developed a promising new idea for lighting nighttime city streets by using discarded items as a power source for the Gaon Street Light – a lamppost powered completely by garbage.

The street lamp is still in the design phase, but does present some interesting concepts for meeting an everyday need while using an available, and often neglected, resource – garbage.

The street lamp features a trash can at its base, which is intended for use by foot traffic. As pedestrians toss their garbage into the can, it’s automatically composted. The methane from the compost is then used to power the lamp. Pretty neat, huh?

It’s a futuristic-looking contraption, kinda like a giant electric toothbrush. But that might actually attract the curious and encourage use. But even with the curiosity factor, there are some obvious hurdles to overcome before the Gaon Street Lamp can light up even one area of Gotham – any other city for that matter.

For instance, how is the trash sorted? What happens if non-compostables are thrown into the bin? How much garbage does it take to power the lamp for an entire night? All good questions.

Still, Lee has come up with one of the most interesting recycling ideas I’ve heard about. At the very least, it will get others thinking of ways to reuse trash to generate power for everyday needs. Who knows, composted waste might one day be able to partially power street lights on a regular basis. And that’s definitely worth hoping for.

Via Inhabitat.

Greenopolis.com is dedicated to our users. We focus our attention on changing the world through recycling, waste-to-energy and conservation. We reward our users for their sustainable behaviors on our website, through our Greenopolis Tracking Stations and with curbside recycling programs.

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Wyclef Jean’s Haiti Foundation: A Cautionary Tale | 3BL Media

Whether or not Wyclef Jean and his foundation committed any acts of impropriety will not matter in terms of the effect on his charitable organization. Damage is done. His nonprofit has taken a major reputational hit, and people might stop making financial contributions to the Wyclef Jean Foundation, also known as Yele Haiti, for Haiti relief efforts.

Yele Haiti was criticized by the Better Business Bureau, based on their review of Jean’s foundation’s IRS filings that are available on the internet along with the filings of all nonprofits. Among the concerns raised by the media and others were that three years of filings were submitted at once, three out of the five board members are involved in Jean’s personal and business dealings, and funds for the foundation seemed to be intertwined with Jean’s business.

Although Jean has defended himself, and ultimately there may be no finding of impropriety, there has been harm to his foundation and to his efforts.

This story immediately brought to mind many boardroom discussions I have had with my nonprofit clients. The most important lesson for nonprofits and their boards is

See continuation here….http://3bl.me/cbks3y

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CSR Minute: Cause Marketing Forum + IEG’s 2010 Sponsorship

Corporate Social Responsibility News: Cause Marketing Forum + IEG’s 2010 Sponsorship Forecast; UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School Aids New Sustainable Businesses.

Applied Materials presents their sustainability path at SBI’s SBUG | 3BL Media

The Sustainable Business Institute (SBI) of Silicon Valley hosted another Sustainable Business User Group (SBUG) on Wednesday, January 20th at Applied Materials in Santa Clara. Bruce S. Klafter, Applied Material’s Head of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, presented their sustainability path. Applied Materials is a publicly traded company, which experienced revenue over $5billion in FY2009 with their 12, 600 + employees operating in 15 countries worldwide.

Bruce made an excellent point regarding how ‘sustainability’ on a corporate level began with a risk avoidance focus (compliance, reduced process interruption) and has morphed today into focusing on not only risk avoidance but also: enhanced workforce, cost savings, production improvements, business model innovation, revenue opportunities. 
 
He also gave a nod to the importance of both top down, CEO involvement and buy in, when a company takes on a true sustainability mission, and bottom up commitments and action from staff. Both are essential to SUSTAIN sustainability systems, practices and behaviors. As someone present at the most recent Copenhagen talks, Bruce is hot the trail of carbon tracking and reduction – both direct and non-direct (i.e. business travel and supply chain) emissions of CO2. Bruce is convinced that their transparency, and of course data and improvements, has sent their third party ratings through the roof. Clearly, revealing environmental and CSR data can give companies more gains than losses in the public eye.
 
In attendance were several Silicon Valley professionals from companies such as HP, WEBCOR , and Becker Risk Management Group as well as the Founder of SBI, Jessica Fullmer, SBI Board Member Megan Havrda (also SVP Be Green Packaging) and SBI interns.
 
Everyone is invited to explore Applied Materials 2008 Citizen Report online at: www.appliedmaterials.com in the About/Corporate Social Responsibility section. 

About Be Green Packaging

Our Mission is simple.  Be Green Packaging’s designs, manufacturers, and distributes Cradle-to-Cradle™ certified, tree-free, compostable packaging for the food and industrial packaging industries.

Be Green Packaging, LLC was formed in 2007 based on the ideas of:

• Manufacturing sustainable alternatives to standard plastic, foam, and paper food packaging

• Distribution through existing distribution channels worldwide

• Being price neutral to plastic and many other fiber products

• Reducing landfill waste through composting practices and building healthy soils worldwide.

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