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Tesco: The Big, Green, Grocery Giant

Tesco going green all the way!

By Shabna John  
November 9, 2007 – 10:14 am

Committed any eco-sins lately? - This could be one of the questions you might have to answer next time you go for absolutions. You think that’s absurd? Think again. We are asked not to covet or steal anything that belongs to our neighbors. Most of us however, by depleting the natural non-renewable resources of the planet are stealing from our neighbors. So, next time around, do not be surprised if you find eco-sins among the list of sins in the 10 commandments.

Tesco, the British grocery giant is determined to nip off all criticisms against it and prove itself as green as it comes. Tesco policy is to use waste hierarchy to deliver change through “waste minimization, reuse and recycling. Disposal is considered the last resort.

The following targets frame their packaging and waste strategy:

1. Reduce packaging on both branded and Tesco own-label products by 25% by 2010

2. Label all own-label packaging as reused, recycled or composted beginning in 2008

3. Increase the proportion of waste recycle from 71% in 2006 to 80% in 2009
4. Double customer recycling by 2008

5. Cut the number of carrier bags given out by 25% by May 2008

Tesco have teamed up with Jutexpo to design sustainable choices of simple yet trendy multi-purpose jute bags as the eco-friendly alternative to the plastic carrier bag.

6. Design out packaging waste growth by 2008

7. Deliver absolute reductions in packaging waste by March 2010

Tesco is to build the World’s Greenest Supermarket having announced a 100 million pound fund to increase their energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by installing wind turbines and solar panels.

However, the most ambitious of all is its program to label all 70,000 of its products with carbon breakdowns that will encourage customers worldwide to weigh their eco-sins before each purchase. Talk about being ambitious.

According to the Guardian Unlimited, Tesco is transporting freight by canal in an effort to reduce emissions. Wine from round the world is now arriving by barges that make the trip three times a week. This is taking 50 trucks off the road every week and has cut carbon emissions by 80 percent. Way to go, Tesco!

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Siemens Gigaset Helium Handset

By Shabna John  
November 9, 2007 – 10:10 am

Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices are going full steam ahead into being the greenest thing around. Their new concept Phone, the Siemens Gigaset Helium is more than two years away from mass production, but it’s already won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award earlier this year.

Of a comfortable size, its chock full of green technologies and the body is made of eco-friendly plastic. The docking station even has a solar powered battery. User friendly features include an intuitive menu, caller ID, widescreen OLED display and 3D surround speakers.

For more of Siemens’ green initiatives, click here.

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Eco Balls: Earth-friendly Alternative Cleaning Solutions

By Shabna John  
November 5, 2007 – 10:28 am

If you are wondering what you can get for your mom or a friend this Christmas season I cannot think of a better combo than the Eco Balls, Magno Ball ( I got the spelling right) and Dryer Balls all gift-wrapped and left under the tree! (Hold that pun right there!) It is definitely one of the best buys this year.

Alternatively, you can transform your home into a greener, cleaner more energy efficient environment by buying these for yourself. They are all eco-friendly and price-friendly too. The Eco Ball is an ambitious dream come true.

The Ecozone Ecoballs® are environmentally friendly, cloth friendly and hypoallergenic alternative to traditional washing liquid but cleanses your clothes even better. An entire three-piece pack of Eco Balls is good for up to 1000 washes.

The Magno Ball is the eco-way to remove lime scale from washing machines and dishwashers and when used with the Eco Ball becomes an effective environmental cleaning solution. Not only are they easy on the pocket, they last up to 10 years and come with a 5-year guarantee on the magnets.

The Dryer Balls help you save money and reduces drying time by 25% while leaving you with naturally soft clothes. Dryer Balls make ironing easier and reduces lint and static. They are all non-toxic and hypoallergenic and last forever.

I had a hard time keeping the puns out of this post. Please feel free to comment!

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SCALEO PC Nominated for The Pocket-lint Awards

By Shabna John  
November 1, 2007 – 9:37 am

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is the leading European computer company offering innovative IT products spanning the entire range of home and business computing. It is deeply committed to environmental sustainability through creative use of technology and skills.

The company was one of the first to implement a full-scale product recycling program (1988). Today Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ portfolio of green products is constantly growing. Its environmental ethos is reflected in everything it does, from product design and manufacturing processes to end-of-life product disposal.

The Green Edition SCALEO PC of Fujitsu Siemens is its first dedicated “green PC” for consumers in the UK. This Green Edition PC’s software has been specially contrived to reduce its power consumption and the internal circuit is designed to have a very low carbon footprint impact.

The SCALEO PC features an Intel Pentium Dual Core processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, a multinorm DVD writer with Double Layer support, an 11-in-1 card reader, runs Windows Vista Home Premium and is priced at £349. The longest running gadget awards in the UK - The Pocket-lint Awards - have nominated Fujitsu Siemens Green Edition SCALEO PC for the coveted Best Gadget of the Year 2007. If SCALEO PC bags the award that is to be held on 22 November in London this year, it will be indeed a prestigious moment for the company.

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Recharge Your Wallet with Moixa USB Batteries

By Shabna John  
November 1, 2007 – 7:58 am

Moixa USBCELL is a great example of sustainable product design. Moixa Energy’s eco-friendly USBCELL battery category has been short listed for this year’s prestigious National Energy Efficiency Awards. It is also finalist for the 2007 Innovation in Engineering Awards alongside a Nuclear Power Station and High Speed Hybrid Train!

USBCELL Batteries are in rechargeable battery category that aims to reduce hassle, battery landfill, resource and C02 waste. It is easier to re-use anywhere by simply recharging from a USB port. Unlike other rechargeable batteries you do not have to find a power socket to charge your USBCell. Under the top of the AA battery is a USB dongle - the secret to USBCell’s success. You can plug in the battery into your USB socket and within a couple of hours your battery has 5 hours of charge.

Every individual, family and every company requires energy. Moixa USBCell helps you make significant changes in utilizing energy more efficiently. Every year over 15 billion alkaline batteries are thrown away globally creating toxic waste, squandering significant resources and C02 emissions. This leads to over 22,000 tonnes of landfill in the UK alone. Each USBCELL, if properly used, can save at least 3kg of toxic landfill and 7kg of C02 compared to disposable alkaline use.

Rechargeable batteries offer major advantages, by being re-usable and with USBCELL you can save money and do your bit to help the environment.

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200mg Bottled Sunshine

By Shabna John  
October 31, 2007 – 1:56 pm

Designer Tobias Wong has come up with a very interesting designer product called the Sun Jar that captures sunlight. It is the ECO - FRIENDLY GIFT OF THE YEAR.

The Sun Jar is just that — a jar. During the day the jar that contains a solar charging panel and low voltage bulb stores up solar energy and by night fall turns itself on with a sumptuous orange glow. It comes with an auto light sensitive on/off switch.

Within the Sun Jar are a highly efficient solar cell, rechargeable battery and low energy LED lamps. When the jar is placed in sunlight the solar cell charges the battery over a few hours. When it is automatically switched on the light that emanates thru the jar mimics sunlight. It gives off a natural and warm light which is soothing and comforting. It’s a all weather Jar and can be used as a night light or even as a decorative light.

The Sun Jar is an incredible and rather pleasant lighting model. It truly combines aesthetics with eco-friendly concepts. Read more about it.

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Miami Goes Green with Staples

Largest Retail Green Power Purchaser

By Shabna John  
October 31, 2007 – 11:13 am

Office supplies giant Staples is going green with Miami’s first entirely eco-friendly retail building. The building will be LEED silver certification standards compliant and hopefully the first among many of its kind for Staples. It’s encouraging to see a global company like Staples taking the initiative to construct and use green buildings.

Staples’ eco-friendly building design is expected improve energy performance while reducing “heat island effect”. This design will facilitate lower temperatures through a highly reflective roofing system. The design will also reduce the strain on municipal water and Florida aquifer reserves by collecting rainwater through rooftop gutter systems and installing waterless urinals and low-flow toilets. Green buildings are environmentally responsible, healthier and more profitable structures.

Staples also helps customers recycle e-waste by simply bringing their used computers, monitors, laptops, printers, faxes and all-in-ones to any U.S. Staples store, where the equipment will be recycled in accordance with environmental laws. All brands are accepted, regardless of whether or not the equipment was purchased at Staples, for a fee of $10 per large item. With an estimated 133,000 computers discarded every day in the U.S the service provided by Staples is environmentally astronomical.

In addition to computer and office technology recycling, Staples provides customers with easy, everyday, in-store recycling for ink and toner cartridges, cell phones, PDAs and rechargeable batteries. In 2006, the company recycled more than 17 million ink and toner cartridges and 3,500 tons of electronic waste.

“It’s not always easy being green. However, through the leadership of Staples, Americans will see that preventing pollution by recycling unwanted electronics is as easy as it gets,” said Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In addition to recycling of technology items, Staples’ initiatives to help protect and sustain the earth take many forms, such as offering a wide assortment of eco-friendly products, investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy and educating customers and associates about how they can make a difference. The company offers over 2,900 products made with recycled materials and is one of the largest retail and Fortune 500 purchaser’s of green power in the country.

For more on Staples environmental initiatives…

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E.G.G. to the rescue!!

Extend the life of fruits and veggies with the Ethylene Gas Guardian

By Shabna John  
October 30, 2007 – 8:04 am

No, we are not talking about the nutritional benefits of poultry produce. Rather we are discussing the merits of E.G.G. which preserves nutrition, taste and texture of fresh vegetables and fruits inside refrigeration units. According to recent studies it probably also protects us from bacteria induced illness.

In the good old days of our grandfathers, people used produce from their vegetable garden for their cooking. However, later with the invention of the refrigerator we got into the habit of stocking our veggies.

Despite refrigeration, fruits and veggies spoil when placed together in the crisper in the fridge. This is because many fruits give off ethylene that hastens ripening. The refrigerators act as a trap further accelerating the rate of decomposition of adjoining fruits and vegetables.

An egg shaped device called E.G.G. (Ethylene Gas Guardian) has been found to extend the storage time of fruit and veggies by absorbing ethylene gas. By placing this unique E.G.G. within your fruit bins, you can save the costs of prematurely aged produce. The sachet of potassium permanganate bonded to zeolite within the plastic eggs can be replaced every three months while the spent materials become compost in your garden!

With Ethylene Gas Guardian inside your refrigerator there will be very low presence of ethylene regardless of what you store. Your veggies and fruits retain their crisp vitality prompting healthy eating habits for your entire family.

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Pangea Organics: Packaging Sprouts Life

Pangea Organics goes the extra mile

By Shabna John  
October 29, 2007 – 10:58 am

According to Joshua Scott Onysko, founder of Pangea Organics, you can be environmentally friendly and affordable at the same time. However, organic prices are often higher compared to their non-organic counterparts for a number of reasons. Joshua states a few to make the point clear.

Factors like fair wages and health care for all Pangea employees, 0 VOC manufacturing facility, and supporting fairly traded and organically grown agricultural products in over 40 countries goes into every organic product.

The bottles used are brown glass that is screen printed. Most people are unaware that anything that has a paper label causes hundreds to thousands of pounds of petrol waste. Nevertheless, paper labeling is cheaper. In addition to all this, glass is the only container that can be recycled forever because it never breaks down.

Pangea products were developed to reduce the waste of packaging, and their products last two to three times that of their competitor’s products. This goes especially for the shower gel that is modestly priced besides its environmentally friendly packaging. The organic seed-infused packaging sprouts plant life when planted!

Joshua Scott subscribes to the idea that operating a green business is not only good for the environment but is good for you too.

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America Recycles Day – Cell Phones Targeted In NYC

By Shabna John  
October 29, 2007 – 10:53 am

In many homes in New York, lack of knowledge has led to indiscriminate storing of old mobiles phones and accessories over the years. In a commendable act of educating the public and saving the environment, Nokia has initiated a mobile recycling campaign in New York City backed by City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Nokia anticipates to take off the streets at least 100,000 unwanted mobile devices prior to America Recycles Day scheduled to be held on Nov. 15 this year.

All consumers are being directed to turn in their old cell phones and cell phone batteries at any Nokia Flagship Store. Alternatively, consumers can contribute to this recycling campaign by mailing in their old mobile devices through postage-paid green mailer available at any Nokia Flagship Store. A new nation-wide toll free number, 1-87 RECYCLES (877-329-2537) offers customer information on how to recycling mobile devices with minimum impact.

The magnitude of the recycling drive becomes apparent only when we realize that 10,000 cell phones (the number targeted by Nokia for this campaign) when recycled will conserve enough resources to power 19 US homes for one year. It also helps reduces “greenhouse gas” equivalent to removing 14 passenger cars from the road for one year.

Let us hope the joint efforts of Nokia and New York City Mayor’s office will bear fruit. All that is required now is for the full-hearted participation of the citizens of NYC.

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