of paper and things

woolly pockets soft, flexible wall and floor planters  made of 60% recycled plastic bottles. {via inhabitat }

grow a hybrid energy delivery device that provides power via the sun and wind, and draws inspiration from ivy growing on a building. made of reclaimed and recycled/recyclable materials. designed by smit (sustainably minded interactive technology). {via re-nest }

the nature conservancy invited 10 designers to create new objects from sustainable materials sourced from around the world. wood, plants, wool and other organic materials were transformed into intriguing objects, revealing extraordinary stories about regeneration and the human connection to the earth's land and waters. design for a living world on view at the cooper-hewitt, national design museum through january 2010 + organic wool rug tiles by christien meindertsma + red maple bench by maya lin .

treehugger has a great primer on carbon footprint . learn what it is exactly, calculate your own with this tool (developed by the nature conservancy ), and then learn about ways to offset and reduce your carbon footprint here and here .

goodbye detergent line of scrubs and pads which require no dishwashing detergent designed by hiroki hiyashi made of recycled food materials including corn cob and peach skin powders, and crushed walnut shells {via treehugger }

nice garden studio by joseph sandy made of reclaimed redwood fence and other found materials.

britian's 3rd largest supermarket chain, sainsbury's, just unveiled a new kinetic energy system that generates electrical power from the movement of vehicles into the parking lot. very cool. the store also features rainwater tanks, solar power, and a system whereby waste generated is processed at a biomass plant rather than shipped to landfills. + more here and here .

remade usa converts old leather jackets into great handbags. i love this clutch! + the website even has a nice tutorial on the process. {via haute*nature }

the danish island of samso, in 10 years, has cut its carbon footprint by 140%, and is now a model for 100% sustainability ~ with a simple grid of wind farms, solar panels and sheep. and it has been entirely a grassroots effort ~ all traditional fossil-fuel plants have been closed and dismantled, and new renewable-energy plants are owned by either individuals or a collective of residents of the island. in fact, the island's carbon footprint is negative, as it exports millions of kilowatt hours of electricity from renewable energy sources. we are not hippies, says soren harmensen (the project's mastermind). we just want to change how we use our energy without harming the planet or without giving up the good life. such a wonderful story ~ read the full report here . {via the guardian }

incredible green (literally) advertising! last year, edina tokodi was commissioned by the southeastern pennsylvania transportation authority to develop a campaign to help commuters understand the positive environmental impact of regularly mass transit use. the installation included green walls and navigable moss icons in the market east station.

love these! limited to a series of 10. the design was achieved by scripting digits to create a halftone effect. the designs are famous images of utopian skyscrapers designed in the beginning of the 20th century. utopian bamboo skateboards by test collective .

beautiful laminated bamboo pendant lamp. dissolve by hiroyuki kato .

by allicette ideally, we are all growing or buying only organic produce. but when that just isn't feasible, it's useful to know which non-organic fruits and vegetables contain more pesticides and are therefore the least safe to eat. if possible, you really should buy the organic version of these: peaches, pears, green beans, apples, squash, strawberries, raspberries, spinach, potatoes, and tomatoes. {via the good human }

brilliant. zilka hanger by ryan frank . made of 100% recycled newspapers, and fully biodegradable. {via re-nest }

tomorrow i will be meeting with an aveda rep, who will present me with (a whole lotta!) money raised through the every drop matters campaign ~ i'm the fundraiser for a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring and protecting a river, which provides my area's drinking water. a local aveda salon/spa adopted us as the recipient of its earth month campaign activities, for the past two years. what they've been able to raise through cocktail parties and spa events to support our mission is remarkable. before being involved in this effort, i didn't know much about aveda ~ i knew that i liked their products, but i had no idea how deep their commitment to environmental stewardship is: ingredients ~ organic and naturally-derived responsible packaging ~ material use reduction and recyclable content manufacturing ~ uses 100% wind power in the process earth fund program ~ grants to environmental organizations they also have a great program for recycling plastic bottle ...

rain tees by andira international . 100% organic cotton tees illustrated by youth living in endangered rain forests across central & south america. the purchase of these tees: supports fair trade, fair labor practices, organic farming & environmental education; promotes restoration of the rain forest; and creates "green jobs" for workers in rain forest communities. {via design milk }

celebrate earth day by making a resolution to do your part every day to preserve and protect our plant. every act, no matter how small, is important. if everyone did just a little bit, the potential for change would be profound. here is a very helpful guide to either get you started or to learn new ways to green your life. it's a beautiful day where i am ~ hope it is where you are too! enjoy!