My article on Triple Pundit on Victoria's Secret catalogs that get greener

Here's an update on a new article I published yesterday on Triple Pundit on the progress Victoria's Secret catalogs made regarding the paper they're printed on - As of December 2009 the catalogs use of post-consumer waste (PCW) and FSC-certified paper rose to 88 percent from 23 percent in 2007. It is still a relatively wasteful product, but at least there is some effort to make it greener (thanks also to the great work of ForestEthics), which should be commended.

The article is entitled "Victoria’s Secret to Greener Catalogs". Here's the first part of the article:

If you’re receiving Victoria’s Secret catalogs there’s a good chance the paper they’re printed on will not be the part you’ll be most interested with. Yet, I’m sure even those who are more interested in the latest bra models will be happy to know that these catalogs, which for years were a symbol of unsustainability, are becoming more sustainable. Five years after making headlines for partnering with ForestEthics, Limited Brands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret, reported last week that it has dramatically increased the use of post-consumer waste (PCW) and FSC-certified paper in their Victoria’s Secret catalogues – from 23 percent in 2007 to 88 percent by the end of 2009.

To read the full article go to http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/victorias-secret-catalogs-getting-greener/

Links to other articles I wrote for Triple Pundit can be found at http://www.triplepundit.com/author/raz-godelnik/

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!

Comparing B&N Nook Tablet, Kindle Fire and the iPad 2 - which tablet is greener?

Barnes & Noble unveiled yesterday its new $249 Nook Tablet, just weeks after Amazon.com released its Kindle Fire tablet, which sells for $199. The timing of both companies is no accident - just ahead of the holiday shopping season, anticipating a growth in sales of tablet computers this year.

Just like when the Kindle Fire was out, you can already see detailed comparisons between the new Nook Tablet, the Kindle Fire and the iPad 2, which are all competing each other in the tablet space this season. As you can see here for example, some comparisons also add to the game the older Nook Color, which can also be considered as a tablet.

We would like to add our green perspective, checking which one among these 3 or 4 options is the most sustainable one.

First, we need to acknowledge the sad fact that currently only Apple publishes information on the carbon footprint of its device, as well as information on its eco-friendly features, such as having an arsenic-free display glass, being brominated flame retardant-free, PVC-free, and so on.

I might sounds like a broken record, but although we have seen so much progress in the tablet market, this situation hasn't changed unfortunately so far. Unlike Apple, Barnes & Noble and Amazon either don't care about the environmental impacts of their devices or just don't think it worth the effort of sharing this information with their customers. Either way, Apple's leadership makes iPad 2 the greener device among the three (or four) by default. Once Barnes & Noble and Amazon will change their mind we will be able make a meaningful comparison among the three tablets. Until then, Apple's iPad 2 rules!

Still, there are three more points to be made:

1. Apple's iPad is green only to some extent - when you look at the manufacturing part, and you have to look at it if you're taking a life cycle approach, the picture is far from being satisfying as we reported here couple of times and was reminded about lately in an article on Fast Company magazine. The only reason it doesn't disqualify Apple's iPad 2 from being considered the greenest among the three devices is that we don't know for sure that B&N and Amazon are doing better - the fact is that we only have information on Apple, but there's a chance that the same unsustainable practices that are associated with the manufacturing of the iPad devices can be associated with the manufacturing of the Nook and Kindle devices.

2. Both Kindle Fire and Nook Color are sold now in $199, which is way cheaper than the iPad 2. Their affordability is actually a sustainable advantage as one of the criticism against ebooks and e-readers / tablets is that it's only an option for rich people, while most people (the 99% maybe?) can't really afford it. With a price tag of $199, which will probably get even lower on the holidays it looks like the tablet experience is becoming more affordable than ever. And if you're only interested in ebook reading, don't forget you can buy a Kindle now for only $79.

3. One of the features of the new Nook Tablet B&N is focusing on is its battery life:

"Barnes & Noble developed revolutionary battery life with NOOK Tablet, enabling 11.5 hours of reading time or nine hours of video viewing – the equivalent of five full-length movies."

This feature has of course environmental implications (better battery life, less need to recharge it and consume electricity), but just don't forget these estimates are given for battery life with WiFi off, which as Geek.com makes very little sense given these are multimedia devices:

"It’s obvious that these estimates were given by companies whose background is in eReaders. While WiFi off estimates make sense there, they don’t with tablets. These are multimedia devices now, and customers want to know what their battery life will be like when using them that way. Who buys a tablet and then leaves the WiFi off? Okay, some will when reading on the train or watching videos in a car, but that’s not going to be the norm. We’ll look forward to some testing to see how both slates hold up with WiFi on."

So the bottom line is that when it comes to battery life the winner is still the iPad 2.

To read more on how green is the iPad, visit our website at http://www.ecolibris.net/ipad.asp

To read more on how green is Amazon Kindle, visit our website at http://www.ecolibris.net/kindle.asp

More resources on the ebooks vs. paper books environmental debate can be found on our website at http://www.ecolibris.net/ebooks.asp.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Pick-a-Woo Woo's new book, The Elf that Flew, is going green with Eco-Libris!

We are happy to announce a new collaboration with our partner, the Australian publishers Pick-a-Woo Woo, on a great new green children's book that was just released: The Elf that Flew.

625 trees are planted with Eco-Libris for this book. As you can see in the picture above, our logo is also added to the book's cover.

Based in Western Australia, Pick-a-Woo Woo Publishers are publishers of Mind Body Spirit books for children. Their inspirational books are designed to help children connect with their intuition and inner guidance, develop their awareness skills and enhance their Mind, Body, Spirit connection.

This book is a green book, not just because of the trees planted for it, but also because of the story it tells and the messages it sends to the readers. Here are more details about The Elf that Flew:

Love and Joy give you wings to fly. A magical tale about Greenleaf the Elf who lives happily in the rainforest surrounded by his many tree friends. A chance encounter with flying flower fairies propels Greenleaf on an unlikely quest to fly like the fairies. Told with humour and warmth, this tale celebrates the importance of being yourself while promoting love for our natural environment.

Author: Lindy Mitchell

Lindy grew up in Sydney at a time when children were encouraged to play outside until dark. The local bush was a place where nature and a child's imagination created magical worlds and limitless stories.Lindy always expected to meet fairies and bunyips and was always surprised when she didn't.

Lindy's love of nature led to a career in horticulture. Later in life she decided to pursue her other love, literature. After completing an English degree, Lindy then worked in Mental Health and volunteered as a telephone counselor. During this time Lindy became aware of society's disconnection from the natural world and the rise in mental illness. Lindy's experience and innate wisdom spoke of how spending time in nature was not only beneficial to mental and physical health but vital for the spirit.

In her new career as Storyteller, Lindy seeks to connect people with the healing essence of nature. Through the written and oral traditions, Lindy uses humour and imagination to tell tales of simple spiritual truths, promoting the love of nature and fostering a sense of stewardship. Lindy encourages children and their families outdoors to explore and reconnect with their environment.

Lindy considers herself blessed to live on the Central Coast of NSW surrounded by her family and friends. The spectacular natural scenery of the region is the inspiration and setting for her stories....and she now meets the fairy folk regularly though the bunyip remains elusive.

Copies of the book are available for purchase on Amazon.

Other Pick-a-Woo-Woo titles that go green with Eco-Libris:

The Boy Who Was Born To Love Frogs
Angel Steps
Ocean's Calling
KC the Conscious Came

Archie Angel to the Rescue
The Star who Lost her Sparkle

More information on these books and other titles published by Pick-a-Woo Woo can be found on their website - http://www.pickawoowoo.com

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Occupy junk mail, or: How to keep Wall Street occupied

Here's an interesting idea on how to combine two just causes in one action (thanks to Grist for letting us know about it!):

You can find more tips and thoughts about it on this video.

So, what do you think?

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

On Amazon Kindle new lending library: The good, the bad and the ugly

Yesterday Amazon opened the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, allowing Amazon Prime members to rent one digital book per month for free. Right now, this library includes 5,000 titles, including over 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers.

Coming from Amazon, this is a big step in the ebook space and we thought it's worth looking into three consequences of it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

The good: If you are a Kindle holder and also Amazon Prime member you just got yourself a free ebook every month. This is also good news to ebook lending fans in general - the market is and will get more competitive and readers will be the ones that will profit from it eventually. For example, right now ebook lending services such as eBookFling and BookLending, as well as libraries, let you rent ebooks only up to 14 days. Now that Amazon is offering you to rent a book for one month, there's a good chance other players in the market will eventually try to offer a similar offer.

The bad: Amazon is conquering another piece of the ebook market. It's true that right now it's only a pilot program offered to Prime members, but how much time do you think it will take Amazon to dominate the market? Not too much I guess. So even though the entrance of Amazon to this market will benefit readers (see the good part), it also helps to strengthen the status of Amazon as the most powerful player in the book market. And with Amazon exploring other parts of this market like publishing and self-publishing, it looks like that in couple of years Amazon won't be just a powerful player in the book market, but it will be the book market. This is definitely not a desirable future for this industry.

The  ugly: This move is bad news for brick and mortar bookstores in general and independent bookstores specifically, as it will help to energize the transformation to ebooks  (if this trend needs any help at all) and make more people do their ebook activity, whether its shopping or renting through Amazon. Not to mention that it provides readers that are not Prime members a good reason to consider paying the $79 annual fee and become Prime members. And once they become Prime members, with the free two day shipping, there's also a good chance they will start doing their paper book shopping only on Amazon, enjoying this shipping benefit. Again, not a desirable situation if you're an independent bookstore or even Barnes & Noble.

To read more updates on the ebook lending space check our ebook lending page.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

This week's book recommendation - Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America

I'd like to share with you today an update on a great book that has just been released - Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America by Tyson Miller (editor) and Kelly Spitzner (designer), Foreword by Paul Hawken, Closing by Alice Walker.

I just saw the book briefly but from what I've heard this is a very special book that anyone interested in finding sustainable solutions for a better future for America (and the world)  should be reading.

Here's more about the book from its website:

Across the nation countless individuals and organizations are dreaming a new future. Dream of a Nation sheds lights on some of the groundbreaking leaders, projects and ideas that have the potential to solve society’s toughest problems.

Through a collection of essays and short commentaries, the solutions and projects presented celebrate unique contributions from the country’s diverse population and span the nation’s most prevalent concerns. The content is applicable to readers of varying political persuasions and the material comes alive through four-color authentic images, and accessible graphics and illustrations.

Contributors include: (Click links below to see samples of the look and feel of the book!)

• Alice Walker
• Vice President Gore
• Time 100 Visionary Geoffrey Canada
• Bioneers Founder Kenny Ausubel
• NASA Astronaut Jerry Linenger
• Frances Moore Lappé
• Common Cause
• New America Foundation
• United for a Fair Economy
• The Bipartisan Bridge
• Citizen Effect
• Veterans for Peace
• (and nearly 50 more)

Over 60 interconnected issues are explored and organized across 12 chapters including: Building an Equitable and Green Economy, Waging Peace, Citizen Leadership, Strengthening Community, Environmental Stewardship, Ending Poverty, Deepening Democracy, Improving Health, Media Reform, Key Education Innovations, Re-Imagining Business, and Creating a Nation that Shines.

Dream of a Nation restores faith that humanity can solve our current looming environmental, economic and societal challenges. This is a comprehensive resource for any reader interested in gaining critical information and deepening their role as an empowered citizen.

Praise for Dream of a Nation
“Dream of a Nation moves us past party lines and into the realm of what is possible. This important work guides even the most disillusioned of us toward innovative measures that, if implemented, could benefit society in amazing ways and make citizen activists out of us all. Inspiring!” - –Jennifer Grayson, Huffington Post

“At a time when America’s challenges seem greater than ever, when polarization threatens to leave us permanently divided, Dream of a Nation reminds us of what we have in common—and all that we can build when we work together.” –Bryan Walsh, TIME Magazine

Last but not least, the book is printed on 100% PCW recycled FSC-certified paper in the U.S.

For more information on the book and ordering a copy visit http://dreamofanation.org/book/ 

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant a tree for every book you read!

Three-eyed fish, too much poop and other green issues you should be horrified about this Halloween

Our Halloween special continues! After we shared with you a list of ten green things you shouldn't be horrified about this Halloween, here's a counter-list of ten green things that you should be horrified about this Halloween:

1. Fishermen trawling a nuclear-plant-fed reservoir in Córdoba, Argentina have caught a three-eyed wolf fish (not a very pretty fellow I have to say..) 

2. The 7 billionth baby is expected to arrive around Halloween (and we have a big poop problem)

3. No one in the media (except the Daily Show) seems to care about a new study that confirms the scientific finding that climate change is real and underway -would it be the same if the results were the opposite?

4. What you can find in the McDonald's McRib sandwich 

5. BP just got an approval to launch its first deep-water drilling since the lethal blowout of its Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico a year and a half ago

6. The Greenland ice sheet can experience extreme melting even when temperatures don't hit record highs, according to a new analysis

7. Cereal crimes: Bear Naked and other big cereal brands are exposed in a new consumer report for unethical “natural” claims

8. Animals shrink as earth warms (are we next?)

9. More dust storms expected as Texas drought lingers (I wonder if Rick Perry read this one..)

10. Ozzy Osbourne is embracing a vegan diet

If you have more ideas, feel free to add your comment.

Happy Halloween!
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Plant trees for your books!