Watch our new video: What happens when your marketing manager doesn't like your campain's slogan!

Last week we started our green gift campaign (http://www.ecolibris.net/gifts.asp), where we give great gifts that promote green reading! From free green books to gift cards for Strand Bookstore and BookSwim, the Netflix for books, Eco-Libris is now rewarding readers who balance out 25 books or more by planting trees.

As we mentioned earlier, my beautiful baby Shira was chosen to lead the campaign, and she is starring in a couple of funny videos that we hope you will enjoy. Here's the latest one that was published yesterday:



The videos can be found at the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf3yljv4PV8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pznPJjygtP8

We also invite you to share them with other book lovers, along with the information about the campaign (http://www.ecolibris.net/gifts.asp).

Best,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Rewarding green readers!

The number of eco-friendly papers has more than doubled in the past 18 months!

Wonderful news from Canopy! This great environmental non-profit organization that works to improve the environmental performance of paper and wood companies, reported earlier this month that the number of eco-friendly papers available in North America has more than doubled from 97 to 228 in the past 18 months!

According to Canopy (and thanks also to our friends at the Green Press Initiative for bringing this release to our attention), "the sharp increase in eco-paper options is the result of large paper buyers demanding more papers with ecological attributes, a growing trend despite recent troubles in the North American paper industry and global economy."

This is a very interesting trend and its importance is even greater, given the troubled economy and its influence on many paper buyers. Is it possible that more publishers see further business opportunities in purchasing greener papers? Possibly. Is it also a matter of pricing? Definitely. I believe that as we'll see premiums going down, it will be easier to present eco paper options as a business opportunity, or a win-win solution.

If you want to learn more about the eco paper options available, please go to Canopy's comprehensive Ecopaper database. There you'll find more than 350 of the best eco papers available in the North American marketplace.

Best,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Green printing tip no. 34: What should we look for in buying copier paper?

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 shedding more light on the choices almost every office around the world is making while buying copier paper and what should be taken into consideration in this process.

What should we look for in buying copier paper?

Tip #34

The copier paper market is a huge market in terms of paper bought. Probably, in the trillions of pounds bought each year. The copier market comes in several categories. One is the non recycled category, another is the 30% recycled category, and the last one is the 100% recycled market.

Environmentally, the 100% recycled market is the way to go, if you can afford the extra price. If you do, you are helping to keep 70% of the previous waste paper from being landfilled, or incinerated.

If you buy 100% recycled copier paper, that paper is entirely made from previous "printed" paper, which is 100%PCW If you buy 30% recycled, then 70% of the remaining content is made from trees, or pre-consumer waste, and then millions of pounds of printed paper will not go back to the mills to make new paper. Instead, that paper will go to our over crowded landfills, or incinerated, releasing toxic fumes into our environment.

Although there is no way to figure the true cost difference between 30% PCW versus 100%PCW paper, let me try. The less recycled paper is bleached with Chlorine Dioxide and chlorine mixed
with other chemicals in the paper making process will cause Dioxins to formulate. Dioxins seeping into our waterways, and it will, can cause cancer.

The 70% printed paper now needed to be landfilled will cost the tax payer money. So if we have an $8.00 per carton difference between 30% PCW and 100% PCW paper, the hidden costs will need to be considered. How much money is spent on cancer research, and cancer treatment, not to mention loss of life and loss of human productivity, and unemployment payments, etc.

What does that equal in cost per carton? What is the cost per carton to each of us to pay the taxes on running landfills, and incinerator plants?

So the $8.00 per carton difference is really a lot less if you could add these hidden costs to the real cost per carton of the less recycled paper.

To make sure you are getting the correct paper, if you are buying the 100% recycled copier paper that is manufactured only with post-consumer waste paper, look for the emblems printed on the cartons and the packages.

You need to see 100% PCW. You need to see 100% PCF, which stands for Processed Chlorine Free. The 100% PCW recycled papers are bleached with Oxygen or Hydrogen Peroxide, and NOT chlorine. You should also look for the FSC and the Wind E emblems, as well.

So, consider all factors when considering the extra money in being more environmental. You would be helping future generations deal with our mess, and our health issues, and your actual cost per carton may not be the $8.00 per carton you originally were dealing with. We might be saving money in the long run, and living a cleaner life now.


For additional information on buying copier 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 #33 - Do I have a Green Marketing Give Away for Trade Shows?

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

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

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 review: A Lion's Mane by Navjot Kaur

Today we review a green book that not only is printed on recycled paper (50% PCW) and processed chlorine-free, but also goes green with Eco-Libris - 625 trees are planted with us for the first edition of this beautiful book.

Our book today is:

A Lion's Mane

Author: Navjot Kaur

Born and raised in England and of Sikh-Panjabi heritage, Navjot Kaur has always found ways to identify with her environments. During her academic years, she unearthed valuable insights into the connections between 17th century Spanish Literature with that of the Panjabi Classics. Experiences across these diverse cultural borders have enriched her sense of global citizenry; forging her forward not only as an author, but also, as an educator and mother.

Having already led diversity initiatives within her schools, A Lion's Mane is her first children's book, a story that contextualizes the many connections we share as global citizens. Navjot is a member of the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators and currently resides in Canada with her husband and son.

Illustrator: Jaspreet Sandhu

Publisher: Saffron Press

Published on: September 2009

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

In this beautifully illustrated story, young readers journey to cultures around the world to explore the meaning of the dastaar, or turban of the Sikhs. Allusive words placed within a vibrant red dastaar help promote our connections as global citizens and encourage dialogue around issues of identity and kinship. A Lion's Mane promises to be a staple on the shelves of all young visionaries.

Here's the book's trailer:

What we think about it?

This is a beautiful book. Literally. Not only the content and message of the book are simply beautiful and moving, but also the marvelous illustrations of Jaspreet Sandhu that gives you the feeling that you're looking into an art work and not just a book.

This book is dealing with Sikh identity, but anyone and especially kids, who come from a different background of their surroundings, will easily identify with the hero's quest for meaning and understanding of his place in the cultural circles that he belongs to. His acceptance and pride eventually in his uniqueness are actually not the end of his journey, but just the beginning.

Although this journey that follows the winding red dastar (turban) may be demanding and requires the reader's full concentration, it's definitely rewarding. At at the end of the book, you might even find yourself smiling and having a moment of optimism, as this book is filled with a positive spirit that is definitely contagious.

Bottom Line: Beautiful and meaningful book!

Disclosure: We received a 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!

Vegan, Vegan, Vegan, Vegan, Small Business and one more Vegan!

No, this is not a guest list or a sophisticated code - these are the subjects of the books we're giving now on our green gifts giveaway!

Yes, we have five great vegan books and one great book on greening up small businesses that we're giving away as gifts on our green gift campaign! Not only that these are great and valuable books, but they're also printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper!

So who gets them? It's very simple - if you balance out 50 books, you can choose one of these “green” books as a gift. Customers will be offered to choose from a list of 5-6 books that will be changing occasionally.

The books offered are books that participated in Eco-Libris green books campaign last November that promoted responsibly printed books. You can see the list of books currently offered at http://www.ecolibris.net/gifts.asp

What do you need to do to get this gift? Choose a book from the list and Email us its name after you complete the purchase on the take action page, or enter it in the comments box during the payment process.

Here are some more details on the "green" books you can choose from:

Raw for Dessert: Easy Delights for Everyone

Author: Jennifer Cornbleet

Now you can have your cake and eat it too! You can stay vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, or just plain health-conscious and still eat delicious cakes, pies, compotes, crumbles, custards, sorbets, ice creams, cookies, and candies. All raw!

Here are Jennifer's favorite no-bake, no-guilt treats. You'll learn to avoid white sugar, white flour, dairy products, trans-fats, saturated fats, and processed foods. And you'll be able to make easy-to-follow recipes for a reasonable amount of money, in a reasonable amount of time.

Some of the delectable desserts perfect for every occasion are: Summer Berry Compote, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes, Crème Brulée, Lemon Tart, Pumpkin Pie, and Knockout Brownie Sundae. Gorgeous color photos provide all the inspiration you need.

Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers - and Save the Planet

Author: Jennifer Kaplan

The ultimate resource for small business owners who want to go green without going broke. Greening Your Small Business is the definitive resource for those who want their small businesses to be cutting- edge, competitive, profitable, and eco-conscious. Filled with stories from small business owners of all stripes, Greening Your Small Business addresses every aspect of going green, from basics such as recycling, reducing waste, energy efficiency, and reducing the IT footprint, to more in-depth concerns such as green marketing and communications, green business travel, and green employee benefits.

For companies too small to hire consultants to draft and implement green policies and practices, this guide is designed for easy use, featuring:
• Simple ways to make the workplace greener
• Two plans of action for going green (divided into two levels)
• Definitions for green terminology and jargon

Local Bounty: Seasonal Vegan Recipes

Author: Devra Gartenstein

The marriage of vegan foods and seasonal produce is a natural one: plant-based foods follow annual cycles and both are healthy and environmentally sustainable. Ripe local produce has the most flavor and nutritional value, uses fewer resources to store and deliver, is more economical to buy, and often supports local farmers.

Local Bounty reintroduces the world of seasonal produce: leafy greens in the spring, tomatoes, peppers, and summer squash during the summer and fall, and root vegetables and winter squash during the cooler months. The bounty of the garden is transformed into wonderful meals that will truly nourish and satisfy with a minimum of fuss to prepare. Real food, real taste.

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book, Cruelty-Free Recipes for Canine

Author: Michelle Rivera

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book by animal rights advocate Michelle Rivera shows how your companion canine can become a satisfied omnivore. This compendium of nutritious, plant-based recipes provide the nutrients your dog needs in order to maintain good health as well as the flavors they love according to the enthusiastic response from pets being fed this diet.

Although vegans will now be able to extend their lifestyle to include what they feed their dogs, you needn't be a vegan or vegetarian to profit from this information. Most dog owners are concerned about the quality of ingredients in commercial dog food.

Sweet Utopia, Simply Stunning Vegan Desserts

Author: Sharon Valencik

Sweet Utopia shows how to create the luscious flavors and familiar textures of traditional desserts without the use of eggs or dairy. These easy-to-make, yet sensational, desserts are all lactose- and cholesterol-free and perfect for vegans, anyone allergic to dairy or eggs, those who need to watch their intake of saturated fat, and last, but not least, lovers of sweets everywhere.

These recipes cover a wide array of goodies including cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, and other treats and are accompanied by over 130 full-color photos that provide inspiration and anticipation.

Tofu Cookery (25th Anniversary Edition)

Author: Louise Hagler

TOFU COOKERY 25th Anniversary Edition celebrates a quarter of a century of helping people prepare delicious dishes featuring tofu. Since then, tofu has become a household word, the health benefits of soy have been validated by thousands of scientific studies, and a goldmine of soy products can be found in supermarkets nationwide.

The best tofu dishes, however, can still be made at home. Soy-foods pioneer Louise Hagler expertly shows how easy it is to add a little tofu to both your favorite comfort foods and gourmet fare. To reflect today's tastes and trends, new recipes were added and the original recipes revised to use less salt and smaller amounts of more healthful fats. The latest cooking methods preserve nutrients as well as flavor.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Karen Finneyrock's new collection of poetry is going green with Eco-Libris!

Karen Finneyfrock is releasing a new book entitled “Ceremony for the Choking Ghost”. And this a stellar collection of poetry is going green with Eco-Libris!

This book is published by Write Bloody Publishing, which is collaborating with Eco-Libris to plant trees for the books it publishes. Last September we worked with Write Bloody Publishing to plant a tree for every printed copy of the LAST TIME as WE ARE by Taylor Mali, and now a tree will be planted for every printed copy of “Ceremony for the Choking Ghost”!

After losing her sister to heart failure, Karen Finneyfrock was unable to write poems for three years. Her voice came back, whispering at first and then screaming. “Ceremony for the Choking Ghost” contains the sound of that voice returning, bringing poems about grief and its effect on the body, the body politic, memory, and, of course, poems about love. Half poetry, half exorcism, her book calls to all of our ghosts.

in Gomorrah? When you were still beardless,

and I would oil my hair in the lamp light before seeing

you, when we were young, and blushed with youth

like bruised fruit. Did we care then

what our neighbors did

in the dark?

When our first daughter was born

on the River Jordan, when our second

cracked her pink head from my body

like a promise, did we worry

what our friends might be

doing with their tongues?

What new crevices they found

to lick love into or strange flesh

to push pleasure from, when we

called them Sodomites then,

all we meant by it

was neighbor.

When the angels told us to run

from the city, I went with you,

but even the angels knew

that women always look back.

Let me describe for you, Lot,

what your city looked like burning

since you never turned around to see it.

Sulfur ran its sticky fingers over the skin

of our countrymen. It smelled like burning hair

and rancid eggs. I watched as our friends pulled

chunks of brimstone from their faces. Is any form

of loving this indecent?

Cover your eyes tight,

husband, until you see stars, convince

yourself you are looking at Heaven.

Because any man weak enough to hide his eyes while his neighbors

are punished for the way they love deserves a vengeful god.

I would say these things to you now, Lot,

but an ocean has dried itself on my tongue.

So instead I will stand here, while my body blows itself

grain by grain back over the Land of Canaan.

I will stand here

and I will watch you

run.

Here's a Sample Poem from “Ceremony for the Choking Ghost” (from Writebloody Publishing's website):

WHAT LOT’S WIFE WOULD HAVE SAID
(IF SHE WASN’T A PILLAR OF SALT)

Do you remember when we met
in Gomorrah? When you were still beardless,
and I would oil my hair in the lamp light before seeing
you, when we were young, and blushed with youth
like bruised fruit. Did we care then
what our neighbors did
in the dark?

When our first daughter was born
on the River Jordan, when our second
cracked her pink head from my body
like a promise, did we worry
what our friends might be
doing with their tongues?

What new crevices they found
to lick love into or strange flesh
to push pleasure from, when we
called them Sodomites then,
all we meant by it
was neighbor.

When the angels told us to run
from the city, I went with you,
but even the angels knew
that women always look back.
Let me describe for you, Lot,
what your city looked like burning
since you never turned around to see it.

Sulfur ran its sticky fingers over the skin
of our countrymen. It smelled like burning hair
and rancid eggs. I watched as our friends pulled
chunks of brimstone from their faces. Is any form
of loving this indecent?

Cover your eyes tight,
husband, until you see stars, convince
yourself you are looking at Heaven.

Because any man weak enough to hide his eyes while his neighbors
are punished for the way they love deserves a vengeful god.

I would say these things to you now, Lot,
but an ocean has dried itself on my tongue.
So instead I will stand here, while my body blows itself
grain by grain back over the Land of Canaan.
I will stand here
and I will watch you
run.

The book is available at Writebloody Publishing's store - http://writebloody.com/store/index.html

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Check our green gift campaign!

Tree planting in Malawi - a new video of our planting partner, RIPPLE Africa

Our friends at RIPPLE Africa are completing these days another planting season of trees in Malawi, Africa.

They have published a very powerful video last month on the deforestation problems that Malawi is facing (In Malawi an area of forest the size of a football pitch is cut down every 10 minutes!) and the work RIPPLE Africa is doing with local communities to fight it.

The goal of their reforestation efforts is to plant and grow millions of trees every year and to "train, educate and empower the local communities to sustainably manage their environment to reduce poverty". We are proud to partner with RIPPLE Africa and support these goals and we hope you'll enjoy this video.

More details on RIPPLE Africa are available on their website - http://www.rippleafrica.org/. More information on our work with RIPPLE Africa can be found on our partners' page and on their annual assessments.



Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Check out our green gift giveaway!