PepsiCo Canada's 100% Recycled EcoGreen Bottle Breakthrough

PepsiCo Beverages Canada has launched North America's first soft drink bottle made from 100% recycled post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. The bottle is know as the 7UP EcoGreen bottle and is made of 100 percent recycled plastic. The formula for such a bottle has eluded other carbonated beverage companies because of the additional stress placed on the bottles from carbonation pressure.

GreenBlue's Packaging Design Guidelines Close the Loop on Recycling

A lack of coordination between packaging design and packaging recovery is a major obstacle in creating closed loop recycling systems for materials. To address this issue, the non-profit organization GreenBlue has released a suite of reports that provide technical guidance on designing packaging to be compatible with common recovery methods. GreenBlue initiated this project to provide similar guidance for all packaging material types.

How to Start a School Recycling Program

According to Treehugger, on average, schools throw out 38 tons of paper each year, which equals 644 trees. However, each ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees. Schools represent an important opportunity for increased recovery of high quality paper much needed to make new products. Here are 10 steps from Earth 911, for the development of a school recycling program.

The UK's Sandal Magna Community Primary School

The Sandal Magna Community Primary School in Wakefield, England is one of the UK's most carbon efficient schools. Designed by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, the complex incorporates reclaimed materials, energy conservation, and renewable energy. The school recently won the RIBA award for both its green efforts and its unique looks.

The Best Eco-Inventions of 2009: Miscellaneous Consumer Goods

The Environmental Toothbrush: Developed in Australia, this toothbrush uses bamboo and biodegradable polymer bristles rather than plastic. These brushes break down into compost, leaving no residue. Hundreds of millions of non-renewable plastic toothbrushes are discarded annually, adding 1,000 tonnes to landfill.

Another toothbrush design has a slot in the handle that squeezes toothpaste completely out of the tube. Rather than discarding it, this brush can be re-purposed for cleaning.

Greener Alcohol: An organic liquor company by the name of TRU alcohol offers spirits that are USDA certified organic from the field to the bottle. TRU’s packaging is light and sustainable - meaning everything is recycled, recyclable or biodegradable. TRU plants a tree for every bottle sold to replenish forests and paper stocks.

Remote Controls: Shake & Control remote control works by pressing or shaking. The Wind Up Remote Control works by winding a crank on the control. Both remote controls eliminate the need for batteries.

Water-Powered Clock: Simply fill it with water and a squeeze of lemon juice and it will run accurately for six to eight weeks without an external power source.

Green Inventions In Fabric: The Wonderland Project has unveiled the dissolving dress also known as catalytic clothing. These clothes can harness pollutants that would then be neutralized by washing. Clothes have a massive surface area, and this surface could be used to purify the air.

The Danish fashion industry made a green statement with the fashion show 'Innovating Sustainable Fashion' in Copenhagen on December 3. Karin Eggert Hansen, student at the Danish Design School made a collection out of the material from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
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Next: The Best Eco-Inventions of 2009: Education / The Best Eco-Inventions of 2009: Food and Water

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