greener kleenex!!

I am happy to read that Kimberly Clark has made a resolve to select sustainable material sources for their Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle brands of tissue (it's fun how they're all made by the same people eh?) It was due in a large part to the 5 year campaign and pressure that Greenpeace has put on them.

They will be working towards a more environmentally sustainable solution for the North American market. Definitely a more responsible and positive gesture on their part.

Click to: Read the Greenpeace article

Highlights from Kimberly-Clark’s Global Fibre Procurement Policy

Kimberly-Clark will:

• 1. Not use any fibre from the world’s most ecologically sensitive forests areas: Endangered Forests and High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) areas mapped as no-harvest zones;
• 2. Buy Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified fibre over any other virgin wood fibre;
• 3. Phase out it's use of all pulp from Canada's Boreal Forest that is not FSC certified by a 012-1 decrease from more than 400,000 tonnes in 2007 to 0 tonnes in 2012;
• 4. Increase its use of FSC and recycled fibre drastically over the next two years substantially reducing pressure on forests globally. At least 40 per cent of its total fibre used in North America will come from one of these sources - an increase from 29.7 per cent at the end of 2008;
• 5. Buy post-consumer recycled fibre over pre-consumer recycled fibre;
• 6. Not use conflict wood or illegally harvest fibre;
• 7. Support initiatives to identify and map Endangered Forests and HCVF areas and increase recycling rate;
  

Now if they would just admit that cloth hankies
would be an even better solution!

I did like the Greenpeace campaign. Especially the t-shirts.

Here is a guide to recycled tissue and toilet paper:

Re-using stuff

I am endlessly impressed with how other people are creating some amazing things with re-cycled and everyday items. I wish I had the expertise (and the workshop and/or lab) to do this all day long but as it is, I just did an inventory of exactly how much fabric and stuff I have and realise that I have enough to keep me in projects until I'm 90.

But then I find new projects to try. When does it end?

Well, it's fun anyway.

I am on a mission to find as many uses for old burlap coffee bean bags. My latest are exfolient scrubbers and as a backing for needle felted cards.

Scrubbers:
Made from discarded felted wool sweaters on one side (or cotton/hemp yarn on a few) and burlap on the other. They are great for the bottom of your feet or on rough garden active hands.
Much nicer on the planet than harvesting sea-sponges or pumice stones or those bright but synthetic plastic pom poms.

Art Cards:
100% re-cycled and acid free card and envelope stock. Burlap backing, 100% wool felting. Some are abstract, some not, some have comic strip pinwheels added for extra fun.. all different.

Sun Hat anyone?

It's fun when you have creative nieghbours willing to discover new things with you....

Check out Interbent's post on these amazing projects using discarded bottles to build stuff: The beer bottle chandelier is really great but the bottle temple is my fave. http://www.interbent.com/amazing-bottle-art-how-to-recycle-glass-bottles/

If you are looking for fun on Sunday then come down to Main and Broadway for Market 1886. A mini car-free event from Broadway to 12th ave celebrating life "before there were cars". Maybe we'll see you there.