Originally posted in Crafting A Green World

When you’re running an indie business advertising is key to getting the word out. Having stacks of business and postcards on hand is invaluable when you’re trying to wrangle in new customers and business contacts. But if you’re running a business with the goal of being environmentally responsible in mind, then all of that paper and printing can seem wasteful. Well, fear no more because there are plenty of earth conscious printers working to help you promote your projects in a responsible way.

Greener Printer is a great source for all of your typical promotional needs: business cards, postcards, brochures, newsletters, and much more. They make use of recycled paper, vegetable and soy inks, and 100% wind power to produce their entire line of paper goods. They’re a Certified Green Business, ship your goods Carbon Free, and even offer a nifty “Eco Audit” that calculates the environmental impact of each individual order you place.

Pinball Publishing is a great resource if you’re looking to produce more diverse items like booklets, album covers, calendars, concert posters, and cd sleeves. Based in Portland, Pinball is a “Mom & Pop” commited to running their business with the environment in mind. They also make use of recycled paper, vegetable and soy inks, and renewable power sources to create their goods.

Recycled Business Cards offers just that, business cards produced with recycled papers and soy based ink at economical prices.

And if you’re wanting to stay true to the DIY ethic and print your own promo items from home, Neenah Paper is a great resource. Also a Certified Green and Carbon Neutral business, they create an impressive assortment of papers for all of your printing needs.

[Image courtesy of Greener Printer]

I know that using resealable plastic bags, air tight disposable food containers, and things like plastic wrap are super convenient… but they’re also incredibly wasteful, terrible for the environment, and leach toxic chemicals into your food and your body. Here are some of my ideas on how to store your foodies more responsibly.

Invest in some trusty glass food storage dishes: Make your way to the local thrift store, or even Ebay and snag yourself some super cute vintage Pyrex glass refirgerator dishes. These suckers last a lifetime and they won’t end up at the bottom of a landfill. Glass containers may seem a little heavy to lug in and out of the fridge, but it’s so worth it. I’ve also found that food stored in these containers last longer and stays fresher, because it’s not airtight… food actually needs to breathe folks. If you’re like me and your wallet can’t compete with those Ebay bidders, no worries, Anchor Hocking makes a modern version that are near identical. They’re priced great, readily available online, and worth the investment.

Don’t toss that vegan cream cheese tub!: If you’re looking to carry your lunch to work or school, obviously glass storage is out of the question. But there are many resourceful ways to store food in a more mobile manner. Read the rest of this entry »