ecobly blog

It's Groundhog Day eve and spring is within our sights. But it is still very chilly in much of the country! Warm your house, head and hands with some eco-friendly, Made in the USA products. Find stuff made in your region to really lower your carbon footprint, while raising your temperature!

Find products to keep you cozy, from head to toe!

* TerraCycle firelogs and firestarters (NJ)

There's a great column in this month's Sustainable Industries journal that summarizes the current research and information on the economic benefits of buying locally. (Read A Local Economy is a Healthy Economy.)

 Kevin Wilhelm hits the bull's eye when he writes:

Buying locally is a smart business strategy, especially over the long term, for several reasons. For starters, it contributes to a stronger economy in the communities where the business is located. Also, suppliers and consumers are demanding it because local purchasing not only reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from reduced shipping and transportation costs, but creates what famed economist John Keynes termed the "Local Multiplier Effect."

The businesses listed on ecobly.com are the best examples of this principle. Not only are they local companies with Made in the USA products, but they also source almost all of their eco-friendly materials from the local supply chain (though some do amazing things with reclaimed materials from across the country.)

Great to see ecobly.com on Ode's Exchange page today! Ode is a print and online publication about positive news, about the people and ideas that are changing our world for the better. It's an inspirational magazine.

 I hope Ode's readers search the ecobly database to find the great companies that are all making a difference in our communities by creating the greenest products you can find.

Ode says its aim is to bring a "new reality into view," and I believe that's what the ecobly inventors, crafters, entrepreneurs and manufacturers that make eco-friendly, local products all aim to do.

We all know it's true -- the Moms do the shopping. And not just for baby stuff, but for jewelry, countertops, furniture, stationary, mother-in-law gifts - you name it! So, what better way to get your great goods in front of them than to have them featured at CoolMomPicks.com?

Named one of Real Simple Magazine's top three parenting blogs in their Best Blogs feature (Mar 08), CoolMomPicks dishes about all kinds of great stuff -- but they really like the greenies.

 They are looking for "cool stuff that moms must have" -- and I know you've got it! So send them your product descriptions and expand your fans. Let them know you make your products locally, sustainably -- ecobly.

Here's a clever ecobly-like idea: use long-haired cat fur to make yarn. The Huffington Post has a story about Danielle German who knits handbags from cat hair: check out the story here.

 Ecobly features yarn from alpaca, sheep and rabbits (that's angora!) Why not cats? Some folks are "creeped" out, but is sounds sane to me. It's just another creative way to use the resources at our fingertips.

 I say, keep those ideas rolling!

Are you thinking of buying your sweetie earrings or a necklace for Valentine's Day? You can really impress her by giving more than *just* a piece of bling. You can also give back to your community and support ethical, green jewelry. Not to mention getting an incredibly unique gift.

You can find glorious pieces by checking out estate jewelry or consigned pieces, or finding reclaimed gold and gems. Think outside the box for different kinds of jewelry - bracelets from recycled snowboards - how cool is that?

What does it matter? Find out about the unjust, toxic, destructive and dangerous industry that feeds our lust for gold in this month's National Geographic cover story, The Real Price of Gold. They provide a link to the Green Guide's  Sustainable Jewelry Buying Guide.

We are thrilled to have the support of TerraCycle, the world's premier "trash to treasure" company.  TerraCycle (Trenton, NJ) goes way beyond regular post-consumer recycling. Instead of the standard stuff (paper, glass, plastic), it seeks out ways to turn "unrecyclable" trash into great stuff. What can be made from a juice pouch? A granola bar wrapper? An old billboard?

This is the kind of crazy, out-of-the-box radical recycling that we need to reduce our Big Footprints in this country. TerraCycle exemplifies the ecobly values.

Which is why we are so excited that they are willing to help us as we launch. Each month, they will give 10 new ecobly members a cool pencil kit made out of recycled juice pouches. The boxes are part of their new line of products for OfficeMax, which also include 100 percent recycled plastic pens and pencils made from old newspapers and a computer bag made from used billboard vinyl. (**See below for Fine Print.)