Optimal gift wrapping comes from renewable sources and does not contain toxic substances. Virgin forest fiber, bleach and heavy-metal inks need not be a part of gift giving. What are some of the better choices? One of the more optimal ways to wrap gifts is Furoshiki, a traditional Japanese technique of wrapping gifts using cloth. The appeal of this form of wrapping is that the cloth is reused for other purposes, see our previous post for more information on this optimal technique. (more…)

Renourish is guide for graphic designer to help them practice their craft using greener techniques. The web site, created by Eric Benson, offers many green tips and pointers to green resources (which can be otherwise quite difficult to track down). Great reference.

This pen attaches to a keyring and has a lightweight, stainless steel cylindrical design. Using a pressurized ink cartridge, it writes at any angle, temperature, altitude and even underwater. The pen is made in the U.S. and has a lifetime warranty. Available from Inka Pen for $25.

A Picopad consists of 15 sticky notes and one tiny pen, that are designed to fit into the credit card slot of your wallet. The pads themselves are made from a cardboard-like material and come in a variety of colors. They feature two small push-out tabs to make it easier for you to pull it out of your wallet. There’s one on the long side, and one on the short side, making it possible to use with top and side loading wallets. See more details in this review by OhGizmo! or on the Picopad home page. They are priced at $3.99 each.

These classy journals are made from 100% post-consumer fibre. They have a perpetual calendar printed on the inside fold-out front cover. The journals measure 6” X 9″ and are filled with 200 pages of 24 lb. cream coloured paper which is processed without chlorine bleach. Availalbe for $14.55 from Grass Roots.

Found via Great Green Goods.

Cellulose Tape is metaefficient because it is completely biodegradable. It is difficult to find, especially in the US. Almost all transparent tape sold here is made of acetate. One store, Green Earth Office does offer it.

Brands such as Sellotape are available in the UK. Sellotape is made from wood pulp that comes from suppliers with extensive reforestation programs.

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It’s a design update on a common household object. The TAK Pushpin has two pins, an oversized head and a channel in the middle.

The double pins add strength and stability while preventing paper from swiveling, and the horseshoe shaped channel allows users to organize wire and hang up holiday lights. Packs of six are available for about $5.

You may have seen Roost’s recycled vases, which got a lot of coverage recently. But Roost also makes these boxes, available as a set of three nesting cylinders. They are made from recycled magazines and newspapers from all over the world. They also makes some intriguing drink coasters.

Available from Elsewares for $44 per set.

Cellophane is a natural polymer made from cellulose, a component of trees and plants. We like it because it is completely biodegradable and can be made from renewable sources. It is impermeable to air, grease and bacteria.

It was used widely for packaging food until the 1960s when it was replaced by a plastic substitute which was also marketed as “cellophane”. Now it is making a comeback.

Sainsbury’s, a grocery chain in the UK, is going to use a special cellophane wrap – NatureFlex™ - for its organic produce range.

Cellophane was invented by Jacques E. Brandenberger in 1908, a Swiss textile engineer. Brandenberger was seated at a restaurant when a customer spilt wine onto the tablecloth.

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This is a refillable, pressurized air duster, used for cleaning computers and other electronics. It can be refilled using a standard bike pump, by attaching the pump to the valve at the back of the can.

This is more efficient and less wasteful than the conventional disposable air dusters. According Adam Fields, who tested the product (see Cool Tools), ReAir doesn’t last as long as a Dust-Off can or provide quite as much pressure, but it does work well.

It’s available here.

Stapleless Staplers are a more efficient way to bind paper. The models available today are designed for small binding tasks (5-7 pages max). The compact stapleless stapler above is available from Uncommon Goods for $10.

This model is popular in Japan. It is available from the Japanese importer JBox for $13.50.

They also have a sculpturesque model available for $34.50.

Older models of stapleless staplers or “paper fasteners”, like the one above, could bind many more pages but no longer seem to be available. Let us know if you have seen these for sale.

Conservatree
ReThink Paper
ForestEthics

The Sustainable
Group produce a binder made of a durable material that
is 35-40% recycled post consumer corrugated cardboard. We are not fans
of vinyl, the material usually used to make binders, so these binders
are a welcome alternative.

The binders have resuable covers that are replaceable because they
are attached to the metal spine with screws rather than rivets.

The binders are built by Goodwill Industries.

Available from: Sustainable Group