Upcycled Farm Steel and Wood Furniture That Thinks Cradle-to-Cradle
by: TreeHugger Design, 2011-12-01 15:00:00 UTC
Using reclaimed wood and steel from old pig fences, this Dutch company makes exquisite tables, while recycling all byproducts into other useful goods -- cat litter, compost and alcohol..
rumbatime: vandam go watch doubles as credit card
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-12-02 11:37:00 UTC
a silicone-banded wristwatch doubles as a means of contactless payment as well as an emergency medical profile.
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Patagonia, A Trailblazing Brand That Walks The Walk
by: fast company, 2011-12-02 19:28:29 UTC
On Black Friday, Patagonia ran a full-page ad in The New York Times telling consumers not to buy one of their jackets because it takes so much water and energy to make. This was one element of the company's Common Threads initiative, a brilliant brand-within-a-brand that offers a roadmap for companies trying to promote themselves as environmentally friendly.
Patagonia is one of the few corporations that has gotten credit for its environmental programs. The credit is well earned. It comes in part from their values that have driven their actions since their founding over 40 years ago. Their early niche was mountain climbing equipment with a concern for “clean climbing,” which meant reducing the damage to rock faces. Soon after they got traction in the marketplace, they were visibly supporting environmental programs with a portion of their sales and profits. Their latest initiative, Common Threads, takes it to a new level.
Common Threads aims to minimize the environmental cost of clothing through its programs to reduce, repair, reuse, and recycle clothing. Repair clothing by returning your items to Patagonia to have the clothing repaired at nominal cost. Reuse clothing by donating clothing to charity, selling clothing through eBay’s Common Threads site, or on the Patagonia website. Patagonia will give unsold items to someone in need. Recycle clothing by returning recyclable items to bins, and the raw material will be recycled into new Patagonia clothing.
Most surprisingly, Patagonia encourages consumers to reduce consumption by avoiding buying unneeded clothing in the first place. On Black Friday, Patagonia ran a full page ad in The New York Times telling consumers not to buy one of their popular jackets because it takes so much water and energy to make, explaining that the ultimate saving is to forego buying something you do not really need. What other clothing brand, whatever their environmental intentions, would go to that extreme? The whole program is remarkable in its scope, but this “reduce” component is especially remarkable.
An umbrella brand such as Common Threads that packages a basic idea and a set of supporting programs is extremely helpful to companies that have excellent and well-resourced environmental programs that are unnoticed and ad hoc. It has the potential to tie environmental programs together and provide coherence and visibility. As a result, the parent brand is perceived to be an active environmental player.
Common Threads is an excellent example of how branding can help tell the story of serious environmental programs. Without that brand, Patagonia’s four programs would have less impact on the world and on their own brand.
(For more on Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard's views on green marketing, play the video below.)
Related article: Patagonia's Founder On Why There's "No Such Thing As Sustainability"
Vidoes: Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard And Tom Brokaw Talk Green Marketing
Can Wal-Mart Be Sustainable? Ask Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard
Author David Aaker is the vice chairman of Prophet, a global strategic brand and marketing consultancy, and author of over 100 articles and 15 books including his most recent, Brand Relevance: Making Competitors Irrelevant. For more of his latest thinking, follow his blog, Aaker on Brands, or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn for more of his latest thinking.
This article was reprinted with permission from Prophet.com
Live from Durban: Rethinking Mobility at COP17
by: Greener Design, 2011-12-01 20:21:45 UTC
A panel of transportation experts share a vision for the future mobility. They see tremendous opportunity to advance climate solutions by advancing sustainable transportation, from hybrids to high-speed rail.
Baby monitoring comes to the iPad and iPhone
by: Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, 2011-12-02 14:37:49 UTC
BabyPing recently announced the arrival of its new high security Wi-Fi baby monitoring system. The product will allow parents to hear and view their baby utilizing an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The system also features double-layer security that alerts parents if their baby cries, if the Wi-Fi connection drops out or if their iOS device is out of range...
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Baby monitoring comes to the iPad and iPhoneSection: Baby GizmoTags: Baby,
Infrared,
iPad,
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iPod touch,
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Bridgestone's airless tires are designed to never go flat
by: Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, 2011-12-02 21:54:07 UTC
This week at the Tokyo Auto Show in Japan Bridgestone showed off its latest development – puncture-less air-free tires. The tires are still in the concept phase, but have been successfully tested on single-person vehicles in Japan traditionally used for elderly people. The 9-inch wheels have thermoplastic-resin spokes that radiate from the rim to the tread, curving to the left and right for maximum structural support. The solid design doesn't require air, and consequently can't be punctured - so, no more flat tires.
..
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Bridgestone's airless tires are designed to never go flatSection: AutomotiveTags: Automotive,
Bridgestone,
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Top Brewer serves up coffee on tap
by: Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, 2011-12-02 23:18:04 UTC
Wouldn't it be cool if, along with your
flying car and your
robot butler, you had a tap in your kitchen that dispensed hot beverages? You'd just shuffle into the kitchen in the morning, and grab a cappuccino in the same way that you'd usually get a glass of water from the tap in the sink - that said, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to put your mouth right up to the coffee tap. Anyhow, such a thing does indeed now exist, and it's called the Top Brewer...
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Top Brewer serves up coffee on tapSection: Around The HomeTags: Beverage,
Brewing,
Coffee,
Kitchen
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tokyo motor show - honda micro commuter city car
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-12-01 11:16:00 UTC
smaller than a smartcar, the urban electric concept 3-seater features customizable exterior paneling, joystick steering controls, and a battery charged via regenerative braking, that can be removed and used to power personal electronics.
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Evergreen Christmas Tree Made of Library Books!
by: Inhabitat , 2011-12-01 16:15:16 UTC
If you want to get into the holiday spirit without having to cut down a poor, defenseless evergreen, check out this clever idea from the resourceful folks at the Gleeson Library in San Francisco. They stacked a bunch of their own books (bound in a rather apropos shade of green) to form a perfectly proportioned recycled Christmas tree to add cheer to the space. The best part? Once the holidays are over, all of the books go right back on the shelves they came from!
Via Recyclart
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Chadhaus’ Beautiful Hand-built Sustainable Furniture Lasts for Generations
by: Inhabitat , 2011-12-01 17:00:54 UTC
Functional furniture can be an inspiration, and the Farmhouse Modern Credenza designed by Chadhaus is just such a piece! Combining utility with beautiful materials and fine craftsmanship, this credenza is perfect for showcasing objects or hiding them away. The piece features a solid wood case, three custom-veneered sliding doors, and a steel base. All materials are sustainably and locally sourced from the Pacific Northwest, and the furnishings are hand-built in Seattle, USA with love.
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Chadhaus’ Beautiful Hand-built Sustainable Furniture Lasts for Generations
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