Tag Archives: green

Protect the environment with good buccal hygiene

There are now so many big and little ways to protect our dear planet, and let’s be honest, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. There’s recycling, using public transports or feet rather than driving, limiting wastes in about everything, solar panels, insulating houses properly, and so many more… Easy to get lost!

It seems that the way forward lies in the tooth brushing industry though. Surprising?

The first step, unfortunately often ignored, is by saving water. While you’re scrubbing your teeth clean and healthy, just turn off the tap. It’s as easily said as done, and as wisely said by Tesco: “Every little helps!”

There’s also a market for all the materialists concerned with ecology and their teeth, if such people exist. There’s the green toothpaste, which is all natural. We’re just a bit sceptical regarding the packaging, it’s not really clear if the whole thing is recyclable. If not, well… Not that green right? There’s also the eco-friendly toothbrushes, made of recycled wood and with replaceable heads, some that squeeze the paste towards the front of the tube, limiting waste and avoiding silly dispute over squeezing techniques (we’ve all been there), or some that shoot water in your mouth while rinsing them. Clever right? We just hope the last one doesn’t require too much precision and coordination. Let’s face it, most people lack such qualities in the morning.

Finally, who doesn’t like a good gadget? Here is a super duper toothbrush, solar-powered and toothpaste-free! In a few months, someone will probably top that by inventing a solar-powered, toothpaste-and-rinsing-free toothbrush, or something along those lines.

As said before, overwhelming, and let’s be honest, often a bit ridiculous. Now that the green market has picked up, everyone is having a go at it by coming up with the most random ideas. But let’s not complain too much, if it’s going to make people go green, what’s the harm?

(Source: Tree Hunter here, here, here and here)

Supersonic Green Machine

We try not to get too excited about concepts, but this thing is something else.

After Concorde, the future of supersonic air travel didn’t look so bright. However, NASA have a vision for a quieter, greener new version. The original Concorde got just 14 passenger-miles to the gallon (compared to 91 for a Boeing 747) and the horrific noise of the ‘sonic boom’ it made when travelling at high speed meant that it could only do so over the ocean to avoid terrifying environmentalists, old people and small animals. The new ‘inverted v’ wing at the back of the plane cancels out the sound problems however and apparently the fuel efficiency appears to be much better.

So next time you need to get somewhere at Mach 1, there might just be an environmental way to do so… If you’re willing to wait until 2030, that is…

(source: TreeHugger)

Green Kitchen

Quite a while back, we featured the biosphere farm from Phillips, and assumed that was something of a one-off project to attempt to get in on the whole green thing. But now we’ve come across this.

This ‘Green Cuisine’ kitchen is inspired by Japanese Teppanyaki-style cooking; the notion of cooking and eating in the same place. But what makes this a bit unique is the interactive nature of the table. Each instrument (the kettle, steamer, and cooking modules) has a performance monitor, telling you exactly how much energy you are using.

And, as always with these Phillips projects, the whole things looks just excellent.

(source: Home Quotient)

Celebrating green transport

European Mobility Week is a really simple, and hopefully effective, idea. It offers celebrations of green transport all over Europe where residents can reclaim roads. Here are just two examples;

Residents of the town of Almada in Portugal can swap recyclable materials for free rides on public transportation.

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In Budapest, Hungary, they closed a road to all but public transit vehicles and hybrid cars. Best of all the road was even turned into a “living street” and paved with green grass that hosts sports and theater events for three days. If only it could be like this all year round, most certainly in the summer.

Here is our pick of some of the other events from all over Europe.

Germany, Bielefeld

Germany, Bielefeld

United Kingdom, Greenwich

United Kingdom, Greenwich

(source)

Cardboard DIY

Just when we thought Ikea had pretty much perfected the art of the stylish economy flat pack, along come a few sheets of cardboard and blow them out of the water.

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Vulcano® microwave cardboard is a very light material, easy to be transported and glued, and it’s got a certain chic appeal to it as well. It can be printed, decorated and have things pinned to it, and you won’t break your back moving it around.

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What’s more, it’s environmentally friendly, so you’ll be doing your bit for the planet at the same time. Pretty perfect all round then.

(source: MobiliCartone at notcot.com)

Save electricity

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