In the cluttered marketplace for reusable bottles, swamped with a bunch of same-looking/functioning products, the Bamboo Original Bottle stands out from the pack. Aesthetically speaking, the company's flagship product looks, well, nice, with clean lines and a flourescent color accent popping out from the tan bamboo. It also has the unusual feature of a glass interior, which makes it heavier than......read more
With 2012 in full swing and resolutions made, allow us to suggest 5 SHFTS to help you become a more sustainable version of yourself: 1. Optimize your energy use There are many small ways you can reduce your consumption of energy. A few we would suggest are unplugging any chargers and turning off monitors when not in use. Also, replace old appliances in favor of more efficient Energy Star grade......read more
Perfect for an excursion to the farmers market, Baggu bags are super-durable (each can old up to 50 pounds) and collapsible (they flat-fold to a puny 5" by 5"). This 5-pack offering gives you a handy carrying pouch containing 5 bags that run across the grayscale gradient. The pouch is small enough to stick in your purse and easy to throw over your shoulder. Enough talk, time to shop!...read more
Japanese outdoor gear brand Snow Peak has been bringing smart design to the backcountry since 1958. Take, for example, Snow Peak's collapsible Carry-On Chopsticks, a must-have for roaming noodle lovers. Made from recycled baseball bat wood, the wooden ends screw into stainless steel handles that expand to chopsticks to eating length. After use, simple unscrew them and tuck them away in the canvas......read more
Here's a disheartening stat: 500 billion disposable cups are manufactured globally every year; that’s about 75 disposable cups for every single person on the planet. It's time to turn the tide. This barista-standard Reusable Coffee Cup from Australia's KeepCup is one of the nicest looking reusable options we've seen. There are three sizes available -- 8 oz, 12 oz and 16 oz -- with......read more
Seabear is headed by Sindri Mar Sigfusson, whose solo project Sin Fang Bous really nails the Icelandic pop sound for us. "I'll Build You A Fire" is the second single off Seabear's debut LP, We Built A Fire (we have a theme here, folks). For the video, Sigfusson recruited his brother Mani to provide the visuals, and Mani came through with this colorful piece, featuring a......read more
Sneaker shoppers will be taking home their next pair of PUMAs in something sustainable. The apparel company's new eco-conscious packaging and distribution system, which was unveiled on SHFT last year, will start hitting stores soon. Designed by Yves Behar's fuseproject studio, the so-called "Clever Little Bag" is part of PUMA's footprint reduction strategy. It's claimed that the packaging......read more
In the wake of last week's catastrophic oil spill, still growing in the Gulf of Mexico, many people are feeling helpless as to what they can do in their personal lives to stop supporting offshore oil drilling and the use of oil in general. Fortunately, our everyday lifestyle and purchasing decisions matter. We as individuals have the power to help reduce our country's reliance on oil,......read more
New York Times auto writer Christopher Jensen took the all-electric Nissan Leaf and the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt for a spin. Read his review at NYT Wheels Blog. Principles of sustainability are gaining traction in the fashion world. The new issue of JC Report has a nice feature on trends in sustainable fashion design, covering eco-minded brands like Chistopher Raeburn and Bodkin. Graphic......read more
With rising population growth and global climate change putting stress on the consumable 1% of the planet's water, the global water crisis may just be the most critical threat facing our existence on earth. With his Facing Water Crisis project, Dallas-based photographer Balazs Gardi takes the issue head on. In his words: The unfolding water crisis is causing social tensions and......read more