Why That Triangle Arrow Recycling Symbol is a Piece of Garbage

Posted on | July 1, 2009 | No Comments

The Society of the Plastics Industry developed a resin identification code (that triangle shape with the arrows chasing each other) in 1988 as a way to get us to recycle, but most people do not know that the mark itself is pretty much meaningless. If you’re washing and recycling takeout containers or other plastics that have the “recycler’s bermuda triangle” on them, you might just be acting a fool.

Luckily, design professor KT Meaney and her students have come up with some way better, less retarded graphic solutions to show people whether or not what they are buying can be recycled. Remember, we vote with our cash money so boycotting manufacturers and food distributors who use styrofoam and non-recyclable plastics is the best way to tell them that they need to check themselves before they wreck themselves.

Meat section postcard (Design: David Mitchell)

Smart meat-section trompe l’oeil postcard alerts consumers that styrofoam packaging sucks, without discrediting the delicious product inside of it.

Coupon broadsheet (Design: Britt Cobb)

This supersmart flyer organizes weekly specials into those which have recyclable containers and those that don’t.

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I Get By on a Little Help From My Friends

Posted on | June 14, 2009 | 3 Comments

Sometimes all it takes is a little quality time with someone who you know would do the same for you. A human auction and this pic also help immensely.

THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU BUY NEW THINGS - YOU COULD LOSE 1 MILLION BUCKS

Posted on | June 10, 2009 | No Comments

Well, this is a modern-day Aesop’s fable if my bloodshot eyes ever saw one. Annat, a well-meaning Israeli lady decided to throw out her mom’s old mattress and get her a new one. Little did she know that the old one had her mom’s life savings of about 1 MEELLION dollars stuffed inside of it.

Moral of the story: Use the things you have, man! I’ve been sleeping on the same mattress for almost 20 years now and my bed is an old bookcase that my dad bought at an antiques auction for like $30. I feel wonderful except for a few excruciating back spasms now and then.

via CNN

I AM A CHANGED WOMAN

Posted on | June 8, 2009 | 4 Comments

Traveling is usually seen as an eye-opening experience, but I am now more confused than ever. While I was away and not really able to work on Swyyne, I thought a lot about what my little teeny tiny 140 lb. life (I added 6 lbs. for my “soul”) is doing here - a mental query which led me to a dark and unresolved place. Sort of like the version of hell depicted in 90s Robin Williams film “What Dreams May Come.”

I do know that the more that I try to push my family and friends towards being a bit more conscious of how our actions and purchases effect the earth, the more they hate me. It’s not a good feeling. What’s more, it doesn’t even seem to be making a difference, and I am discouraged.

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FOOD INC.: IT’S A MOVIE ABOUT FOOD

Posted on | June 8, 2009 | 2 Comments

I woke up extra hungry this morning, and what did I see in my inbox? An invite to see FOOD, Inc.

As you all know, I’ve been having issues about what I eat - mainly not being such a food-whore and eating everything that lay in my path indiscriminately - so this should be good for me.

Peep the trailer —>

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win the flirty eco-bikini worn by gisele in vogue’s green fashion issue

Posted on | May 24, 2009 | 5 Comments

vogue loved this flirty bikini so much, they asked loyale to bring it back from a past line. it’s made using all low-impact dyes in NYC baby!

inhabitat is giving it away for free. all you have to do is comment on the post.

win it here: $120 limited edition eco-swimsuit

edit: remy c brought up a good point about the suit - just want to clarify that it will not be the exact same suit worn by gisele, but it will be just as purty!

by they way, thank you so much for reading remy. i am a big fan of your writing!

is global warming giving us the flu?

Posted on | May 21, 2009 | No Comments

just read this on no impact man, and still have to process it.

Yeah, really. We’re all going to get sicker as the ice caps melt according to a new story in Wired (photo courtesy of them, by the way).

Why?

Well, to put it succinctly, in the words of the blog What Ya Thinkn?:

1. Humans keep relying on non-renewable sources.
2. Use of these sources leads to rapid greenhouse emissions as is the case at the moment.
3. Sunlight gets blocked and the north and south pole start feeling the heat.
4. Ice melts.
5. Frozen influenza strains from years and years ago come to life, ready to get in contact with a living creature.
6. Bird A comes along doing its usual thing.
7. Bird A catches the strain.
8. Bird A thinks about migrating, kinda getting cold here it thinks.
9. Flies to one of the unlucky countries, I’m guessing Mexico.
10. Takes a dump on one of the pedestrains aka Patient 0, boom.
11. Pandemic starts.

iunika’s new netbook is solar-powered and super cheap

Posted on | May 20, 2009 | 1 Comment

iunika’s new gyy netbooks are perfect if you need extra battery juice on the go. just expose the solar panels that com embedded on the case, and you’re ready to rock. the capabilities are what you would expect from other netbooks (no hard core gaming or graphics editing), but did i mention this thing is cheap??? $180 for this solar-powered laptop with other impressive sustainable components like a case composed of bioplastics and biodegradable materials made from starch and cellulose.

photos via inhabitat

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new york to ban bottled water

Posted on | May 19, 2009 | 3 Comments

good news for every new yorker who has had “greenis envy” towards places like san francisco, japan and canada:

governor david a paterson has announced plans to ban the purchase of bottled water by state-owned agencies.

this makes so much sense since new york tap water is considered the “champagne of all waters” and has been said to taste on par with, if not better than, bottled water.

state agencies will be expected to phase out their consumption of bottled water over the next six months.

governor paterson said the move would save the state money as well as having obvious environmental benefits.

the move will make New York the second state, after Illinois, to scrap the use of bottled water.

likeminded people, food and bands on a boat for free!

Posted on | May 13, 2009 | 1 Comment

in honor of the 400th anniversary of good old henry hudson finding that big flowy thingie that separates us from the armpit of america, ecoventions is hosting a green business cruise on the queen of hearts!

i’ve always been a bit wary about these “green drinks” type events, but this one seems like it will be a merry time - and it’s free! my hope is that it will attract folks who are not already in the green scene because a lot of similar events tend to involve the same people over and over and while it’s always important to brainstorm together, it’s also seems kind of fruitless to constantly preach to the converted.

details…

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another reason why queens is better than brooklyn: studio square beer garden in astoria

Posted on | May 12, 2009 | 3 Comments

did you know that queens used to have roughly 300 beer gardens? how did that crazy robust selection get pared down to a measly 1?!!!

historians blame both prohibition and people being afraid to patronize places that celebrated german culture. luckily for us (largely due to the movie “beerfest”, we’re over that period of temporary insanity and ready to rock with a second beer garden opening in astoria this thursday! studio square is about 30,000 sq. feet and seats about 1,000 people. i wondered how the space, having such a large footprint, would be offsetting some of the enormous waste that it is sure to be creating and gave them a call. the friendly guy who answered the phone wasn’t sure, but he referred me to the owners, so i’ll be reporting as soon as i hear back.

while it’s not clear whether astoria’s existing beer garden, bohemian beer hall, is threatened by the new addition or not (if anything, they might be somewhat relieved at a second spot to clear up congestion? - okay, probably not), i’m hoping that if studio square does have more sustainable practices, us beerhugging nyc treehuggers can show it some love, carrot mob style.

awesome star trek DIY projects!

Posted on | May 12, 2009 | No Comments

via threadbanger

5 last minute mother’s day green gift ideas

Posted on | May 10, 2009 | No Comments

if you’re reading this, you’re probably a horrible son/daughter - too wrapped up in your own life tasks (tweeting and FBing updates about the swyyne flu and kfc) to have properly prepped a gift for the most important lady in your life!

fear not! your inexcusable procrastination might actually be a good thing. for one, you didn’t get lassoed into purchasing something that your mom doesn’t want/need, and therefore have not contributed to the waste stream. here are some easy, eco-friendly ways that you can make it seem like you knew exactly what you were doing this whole time.

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green hot chili peppers: d&a rocks it out with the newest eco fashion kids on the block

Posted on | May 7, 2009 | No Comments

so many new favorites this week - people and things.

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my sentiments exactly

Posted on | May 7, 2009 | No Comments

pic courtesy of oldster’s view

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latest

• Why That Triangle Arrow Recycling Symbol is a Piece of Garbage
• I Get By on a Little Help From My Friends
• THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU BUY NEW THINGS - YOU COULD LOSE 1 MILLION BUCKS
• I AM A CHANGED WOMAN
• FOOD INC.: IT’S A MOVIE ABOUT FOOD
• win the flirty eco-bikini worn by gisele in vogue’s green fashion issue
• is global warming giving us the flu?
• iunika’s new netbook is solar-powered and super cheap

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swyyne is dedicated to anyone who wants to clean up their dirty ways without fighting the pig within. if you love to buy, eat, and collect things, but feel positively filthy when you think about how you're hurting the earth, there's no need to be torn! there is a way to be a responsible piggy while still getting your consume on. it just takes a little creativity.

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