Ecolean Packaging, A Unique Alternative

Ecolean makes a packaging system that uses a material which is based on calcium carbonate (aka, made from a chalk). They are calling their patented material “Calymer” and it consists of 40% calcium carbonate, natural chalk and polymers (PE and PP) as the binding agent. The packages are manufactured and printed by Ecolean in accordance with each food producer’s instructions. They are then delivered on reels to the factory (who will be adding the contents), hygienic and hermetically pre-sealed. Their Calymer material should not be confused with biodegradable plastics on the market as they follow a different life-cycle. According to their site, upon disposal, a used Calymer package can either be recycled as a traditional plastic or “recovered as energy by incineration.”

The Ecolean Calymer material comes with a full Food Contact Approval Certificate and has improved organoleptic properties over traditional plastic packaging options, meaning that it will preserve the freshness and protect the containers contents longer. The system requires a their proprietary production line with filling machines and packing stations. The filling machine opens, fills and re-seals the packages in 2.4 seconds. Although their Ecolean packaging is available with the system, the Calymer material itself is not for sale.

e2 On Harvesting the Wind

A 3 minute trailer from the e2 series on PBS. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this particular video focuses on the story of a wind energy project taking place in southwest Minnesota. The farmers featured in the video have joined with a local developer to set up a wind farm, supplying energy to residents and businesses in their area.

According to Reuters, the world’s largest international multimedia news agency, United States wind power grew by 45 percent in 2007 and $9 billion was invested. In addition, through their annual year-end report, The American Wind Energy Association noted that wind power accounted for 30 percent of all new power generation in the US. In comparison, 2006 only saw a wind power growth of 20 percent and $4 billion was spent.

Bio-based Plastics That Can Survive Freezing Temperatures

CP-INJ-13 is the first ever first-ever freeze-tolerant bio-based resin. This material is an extension of the existing biodegradable, compostable plastics in the Cereplast line. A substitute for petroleum-based plastic, their alternatives are starch-based, made from corn, wheat, tapioca and potato starches. To learn more about the new PLA (polylactic acid), click here…

Post-consumer recycled promo cards from Clubcard

Looking to print name cards or postcards for an upcoming event but want a more sustainable alternative than Overnight Prints or VistaPrint? Clubcard is a printing company with locations in San Francisco and Vancouver, selling what they are calling Green Cards. 100% post-consumer recycled cards printed on FSC certified 15.5 point uncoated matte Mohawk cardstock. They are printed weekly using vegetable based inks and can be printed full color on both sides.

The Source Toothbrush by Radius

This new “reversible” (a niche term for right or left hand compatible) design from Radius comes with a replaceable head that holds the brush. It’s handle is comprised of blended wood fiber and a PLA made with Nebraska maize. Available at your nearest Whole Foods store and many other locations.