Green Printing Tip No. 33: Do I have a Green Marketing Give Away for Trade Shows?

We are back today with a new tip on our weekly series of green printing tips, where we bring you information on green printing in collaboration with Greg Barber, an experienced eco-friendly printer.

Today Greg is talking about a very clever green marketing idea for trade shows that will keep no one there indifferent to your company, especially if they love to smell!

Do I have a Green Marketing Give Away for Trade Shows?
Tip #33

Yes. I have been working on my Eco Circles SM Networking Cards for 6 months, and I figured out the final key to getting your attention! My Eco Circles are 3.375" Diameter, and look like bar coasters.

We print them on Tree Free paper, mixed with Post-Consumer Waste (PCW). They are much more popular than business cards, or bookmarks, or pads. There is enough room on the back of these cards to write a quote, or ask a question, while at these networking events. But, now we came up with the final link to a very successful attention grabbing idea.
















We print around the circumference of these circles a tagline that says, printed on Tree Free Mango or tree Free Banana or Tree Free Coffee or Tree Free Lemon or Tree Free Sugar Cane with soy based inks using Green E energy, etc. 90% of the people try to see if my cards smell like a lemon or their favorite coffee, etc.

That intrigued me, and I began to look for environmentally sound fragrances to add to the printing, and we found them. We will now print your company information, and mission statement, and print the tagline around the circumference , and the clients getting these cards will be astonished to actually smell the scent.

These cards will make a huge impact on those people that receive them. The price is reasonable and we will have the final costs soon. Compared to pads or bookmarks, this is an inexpensive, environmentally-friendly idea, and I personally know it works to have people really read the cards, smell the scent, and remember you.

For additional information on Eco Circles, please call Greg Barber at (973) 224-1132, or email greg@gregbarberco.com.

Also, if you have any questions you would like us to address in future tips please email us to info@ecolibris.net .

Latest tips:

Green Printing Tip #32 - Is Tree Free Hemp Paper still available?

Green Printing Tip #31 - How to produce the greenest hang tags?

Green Printing Tip #30 - How do you become Carbon Neutral in your next print job?

You can find links to all the tips we published so far on our green printing tips page, which is part of our green printing tools & resources.

You can also find further valuable information on Greg Barber Company's website - http://www.gregbarberco.com.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing!

Live Podcast today on eBook Wars

The eBook market is still relatively small, but the eBook wars are making the news these days, whether it's MacMillan against Amazon, or the iPad against the Kindle.

If you want to learn more about the eBook wars, we recommend on a very interesting podcast that will take place today.

This is a special Beyond the Book live podcast (http://beyondthebookcast.com/live-webcast/), taking place this Wednesday, Feb. 10^th from 2PM – 3PM EST. During the podcast, Copyright Clearance Center’s Chris Kenneally will be examining the eBook Wars, which are taking shape with MacMillan challenging Amazon and the rise of eReaders and the iPad. Chris and his panelists will look at all sides of the e-book story and what future battles may bring to the print and digital marketplace. The podcast will air live on BlogTalkRadio: http://bit.ly/drJipN

Joining Chris are:

· Andrew Albanese, features editor at Publishers Weekly;
Sara Nelson, Books Editor, “O” Magazine;
Brian O’Leary, Founder & Principal, Magellan Media Partners; and
Mike Shatzkin, Founder & CEO, The Idea Logical Company, Inc.,

During the podcast, Chris will also be taking phone calls at 646-378-1949.

This is promising to be a very interesting podcast so don't miss it!

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting Sustainable Reading!

A new campaign is rewarding green readers with green gifts!

Hey, we've a great new campaign we're launching today - The Eco-Libris Green Gift Giveaway!

For over two years Eco-Libris has been offering eco-conscious readers the opportunity to balance out their books by planting trees. At the same time the company has worked to promote sustainable reading, and reduce books impact on the environment.

Now Eco-Libris is combining the two, with a special giveaway that rewards customers with green gifts that promote green reading, from gift cards at Strand Book Store and BookSwim to free “green” books that were printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper!

The campaign will run through 2010 and we hope it will help forward our efforts making reading more sustainable. “With all the current hype around the iPad it’s still important to remember that over 95% of all books sold are printed on paper and hence the ever-growing importance of making physical books more sustainable.

So what gifts will be awarded?

Customers who will balance out 25 books on our website will receive a $10 gift card for Strand Bookstore in New York City, one of the world’s best independent bookstores with over 18 miles of new, used, rare and art books . These cards are good for any in-store or online purchases and they never expire.

For customers who will balance out 50 books, we have a special gift – a choice of “green” book, printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper. The books offered are books that participated in Eco-Libris green books campaign last November that promoted responsibly printed books. Customers will be offered to choose from a list of 5-6 books that will be changing occasionally.

Customers who will balance 100 books will receive a $25 gift card for BookSwim, a Netflix-style book rental library service, lending you paperbacks, hardcovers and college textbooks. “

In addition, the first 10 customers to balance 100 books will receive a free copy of Jennifer Kaplan’s "Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers - and Save the Planet" (Prentice Hall, November 2009)

More information can be found on the campaign’s webpage – http://www.ecolibris.net/gifts.asp

To balance out books on our website please visit
http://www.ecolibris.net/sales.asp

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting Sustainable Reading!

Want more toilet paper in your office? Start shredding some paper!

How far can green innovation go? check out White Goat and you'll probably think the sky is the limit.



Here are some more details: At Eco-Products 2009, Oriental Co., Ltd. exhibited a revolutionary recycling machine called White Goat, which makes toilet paper from shredded paper. White Goat also has a shredding machine in it. The shredded paper first goes into a hopper, where it is untangled in small batches, and its then dissolved in a pulper. Any foreign matter is removed in a tank, and the pulp consistency is adjusted. Next, the wet paper is thinned out and dried. The dry paper is wound into finished toilet rolls, which emerge from the outlet one at a time. All of these tasks are done automatically.

This might not be the softest toilet paper you have tried, but it is still a revolutionary idea. I'm not how much water the White Goat needs for the process, but this is definitely an innovative thinking we need to see more of when it comes to paper!

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting Sustainable Reading!

Green Printing Tip #32: Is Tree Free Hemp Paper still available?

We are back today with a new tip on our weekly series of green printing tips, where we bring you information on green printing in collaboration with Greg Barber, an experienced eco-friendly printer.

Today Greg is talking about a paper that was used to print the first book made on a printing press - The Gutenberg bible.

Is Tree Free Hemp Paper still available?

Tip #32

Yes. We used to carry a Hemp Blend a few years back, made by the Crane Paper Mill. That line was discontinued and we now have a Hemp Line again.

Recently, my firm brought Hemp Paper into stock in two cover weights and 1 text weight. We feature 110# cover for making
business cards and postcards and for invitation printing.

Hemp comes in a natural cream color, and has specs in the paper, making it look recycled as well as tree free. Hemp is mixed with Post-Consumer Waste and is tree free, or void of tree fiber.

We also have matching envelopes in 4.375 x 5.5 (A-2), 4.75 x 6.5 (A-6), and 5.25 x 7.25 (A-7) invitation sizes. We also have envelopes in a #10 size to accomodate letterheads. The color of the Hemp paper is a natural light brown color.

And the price? The hemp paper is 50% higher than our 100% PCW lines, but it's still affordable. For example: $60 for 500 business cards versus $90 for Hemp business cards.

We also are carrying Tree Free papers in Bamboo, Sugar Cane, Lemon, Mango, Coffee, and Banana. Like the Hemp, these plants are mixed with Post-Comsumer waste to make the new paper.

Finally, here's another interesting fact about hemp and hemp paper: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp and Ben Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper. Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper.

For additional information on hemp paper, please call Greg Barber at (973) 224-1132, or email greg@gregbarberco.com.

Also, if you have any questions you would like us to address in future tips please email us to info@ecolibris.net .

Latest tips:

Green Printing Tip #31 - How to produce the greenest hang tags?

Green Printing Tip #30 - How do you become Carbon Neutral in your next print job?

Green Printing Tip #29 - Why environmental views are not always in the core of business?

You can find links to all the tips we published so far on our green printing tips page, which is part of our green printing tools & resources.

You can also find further valuable information on Greg Barber Company's website - http://www.gregbarberco.com.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing!

Green book of the week: GREEN ENTERTAINING for Mommies

Today we review a green book that you'll need for the next event you'll be hosting.

Our book today is:

GREEN ENTERTAINING for Mommies

Author: Laura Theodore

Laura Theodore is creator of “The Jazzy Vegetarian.” Having begun incorporating “green” choices into her lifestyle at a time when entertaining was increasingly commercialized Laura designed and tested her own entertaining approach that was both environmentally sound and easy on one’s budget. Laura is also an accomplished vegan cook and the author of “VEGETARIAN COOKING for Mommies.”

As an award winning songwriter, jazz singer, producer, and actor, Laura has released seven solo CDs on various labels, starred in dozens of musicals, and appeared on programs like Good Morning America, Phil Donahue, Robert Klein Prime Time, and others.

Publisher: lulu.com

Published on: January 2010

What this book is about? (from the book's webpage)

"GREEN ENTERTAINING for Mommies” helps you entertain at home in “green” style. Green entertaining requires us to reuse, repurpose, and recycle! We can accomplish these by astutely using green means, green cuisines, and green themes. This book shows you how through cost saving, fun, and festive ways, while focusing on making your earth friendly event memorable.

In the first chapter, “Green Means,” preparing your home, food, and guest accommodations is made fun and easy! The second chapter, “Green Cuisines,” healthy vegan recipes help you serve simple starters, fabulous fare, and delicious dishes that your guests will treasure. In the third chapter, “Green Themes,” ideas for casual gatherings, seasonal settings, and occasional celebrations are outlined with menus and entertaining tips to ensure your earth friendly event is truly unforgettable!

What we think about it?

This is a fun book as a book on entrainment should be. But it's also very serious when it comes to its promise to "help you entertain at home in "green" style." It covers every possible aspect of entrainment, from organizing the decorations and buying the food all the way to formulating the guest list and setting the tablescape.

You might be surprised when reading the book not only how much is involved with hosting a successful event, but how easy it is to incorporate green elements into it. Theodore included hundreds of tips in the book on how to create what she calls "eco-chic" by following three simple basic guidelines: Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle. Not only that you find them easy to implement, but in many times you won't need to pay more for going green. For example, buying local food, using flowers from your garden or last year's colorful holiday cards for decoration, or even just having a vegetarian meal.

I especially enjoyed the second part of the book "Green Cuisines", where you find great veggie recipes, such as the Country Potato Salad or the Quinoa and Black Beans Stuffed Peppers, that you can use can use when entertaining , but also just for a regular family dinner.

Bottom Line: Not only for mommies. Want a happy and healthy green entertaining event, but afraid it's an extra headache? get this book then!

Disclosure: We received a soft copy of this book from the author.

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on Eco-Libris website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

How green is the iPad - Part 3: A greener eReader or an unnecessary luxury item?

In the first two parts (part 1 and part 2) of our "how green is the iPad" we brought you the opinions of other bloggers and writers, as well as a comparison between the green features of the iPad and those of the Kindle and the Nook. Today it's time for the final episode with our analysis.

To simplify it we'll do it as Q&A:

Is the iPad better for the environment than paper books?
Maybe. No one can really tell right now as no life cycle assessment was made to reach a clear conclusion and too many details are still missing about the iPad (from manufacturing to the end of life) to even start guessing the answer. To all of those who look at the Cleantech Group's report (The Environmental Impact of Amazon's Kindle) as a reference to base an answer to this question, I would like to remind that this report's findings are in no way alternative to a proper life cycle assessment (you're welcome to read our comments on the validity of the report's findings here).

Is there a hope to receive an answer from Apple?
Definitely. In the last couple of years Apple shows a greater commitment to environmental issues - in their latest update of their 'Guide to Greener Electronics', Greenpeace noted that "Apple continues its climb up the ranking from 11th place in v.12 to 9th in v.13 and is now in 5th place, with a score of 5.1 points, up from 4.9." I believe that even if Apple won't make the life cycle assessment (which might be a good thing, as it will be better done by an objective third-party), there's a good chance it will provide the necessary details for such an assessment to be made. In any case, there's a much better chance that Apple will do it than Amazon or B&N, so if there's anyone to look to, it's Apple.

Is the iPad as green as it can get?
It's not that clear. As Greenpeace reported in their guide "Apple does best on the toxic chemicals criteria", so we've got a device free of mercury, PVC, BFRs and Arsenic, but it's still not clear how will Apple is approaching other important issues such as packaging and recycling.

E-waste, for example, is a huge problem and since the battery (which should last up to 10 hours, with over a month of standby capacity) is built-in here, it's even more important to see what Apple will do not only offer a recycling plan for the iPads, but actually encourage customers to recycle their iPads properly. Some will say of course that a "green" iPad is an oxymoron in the first place, as it is nothing but an unnecessary luxury item.

So what's the importance of the iPad from an environmental point of view?
Firstly, as we showed on the second part of our series, it looks like it's greener than the Kindle and the Nook and there's a good chance it's currently the greenest eReader available.

In the long run, it might also become a greener alternative to physical books, reducing books' footprint and making reading more sustainable. I'm not sure for example if it will be better than books printed on recycled paper - it will be interesting to see who wins in such a green battle.

Last but not least, we shouldn't ignore the fact that for the first time such a device is presented with a specific reference to its green features and its impact on the environment. This is something we didn't see with the launch of the Kindle or the Nook, and even though it's just a presentation, this kind of saying is important and shows the growing importance of this issue for both manufacturers and customers.



What about the criticism that it's just another gadget with environmental impact and no real "green" value?
This is definitely a real concern. How many people do you think will replace their laptops to iPads? not many I guess. There's a good chance the iPads will be purchased as another item that will be used together with the laptop, iPod, cellphone and more electronic devices. Is it sustainable to add more and more devices, where each and every one of them has its own ecological footprint? I don't think so.

Still, we live in a certain society that is based on consumerism and we can't just tell people to stop buying - well, we can, but not too many will listen to this call. Hopefully many more will listen to a call to buy products that are more sustainable than others - buying for example iPad instead of the Kindle if you're looking for an eReader.

Yet, it's still very much the responsibility of the manufacturer, Apple in this case, to make sure that they make not only an excellent product, but one with a minimal footprint, that can have eventually a positive environmental impact (for example, by becoming a greener alternative to physical books). What do you think? We'll be happy to hear your thoughts so feel free to comment!

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!