+ Snohomish Bakery reminds us that trash doesn't disappear

It's always nice to see sustainability communicated in elegant, simple ways that remind us that all our choices have consequences. While I was visiting family for the holidays, I saw this excellent example at the Snohomish Bakery. It's very straightforward yet effective as a reminder that trash doesn't vanish into the ether when you throw it away. Hats off!

+ Brandimage Paper Bottle Concept

Design agency Brandimage has developed a concept for a sustainable paper water bottle. On their site, they discuss their philosophy for Responsible Design: being accountable, being smart, and establishing new standards. This philosophy manifests itself in a paper water bottle, questioning the need for the standard PET bottles that we know and expect. It is made from food-safe and fully recyclable materials.We've seen many paper pulp packages on the shelf over the past couple years, but the ability to store foods and beverages inside is what makes this concept stand out. I'd like to learn more about the waterproof film inside that makes the bottle work. Does the film currently exist? To what extent is this concept technically feasible?

+ Steam Showers: A Sustainable Future?

Creating a soothing experience with very little water, steam showers are becoming more and more popular for their spa-like capabilities. This Old House has a great overview of both the technology and the existing range of products:

Luxuriate as long as you want: Steaming for 20 minutes consumes a mere 2 gallons of water. By that reckoning, steam is a "green" way to bathe. Your electric bill is bound to go up, however. A typical 4-by-5-by-8-foot stall (160 cubic feet) covered with ceramic tile requires at least a 7-kilowatt generator.

Currently, the steam shower is an indulgence that still requires a lot of heat, but we think it could be repurposed to be a true energy saving experience. Read the entire article here.

+ Bottledwater.org

To learn more about the bottled water industry, a good place to start is the International Bottled Water Association (Bottledwater.org). Last month, the IBWA met to talk about the future of their industry and address important issues. Whatever your opinion on bottled water, it's important to realize that it has a place in our society. Complaining alone will probably just make the problems messier. Here are a few quotes from President Joe Doss:

Over the past year, IBWA members and staff have been working diligently to communicate proactively the facts about bottled water and defend the industry against unwarranted attacks by activists. It is clear that a war is being waged against our products and the future of the bottled water industry is at stake. IBWA has therefore begun to significantly increase its level of government, media and other activity to deal with this continued serious threat.

We have a lot to feel good about. With the rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease on the rise, we make a healthy, safe, convenient product that consumers continue to demand. And bottled water is always there when it is needed; whether in times of natural disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, or wildfires) or other emergencies (such as boil alerts and contaminations of municipal water supplies).

Bottled water is an easy target for activists, but all packaged food and beverages contribute to packaging waste. Rather than attack the bottled water industry, it would be interesting to look at the places where it provides the most value for new opportunities.

Click here to read the full press release.

+ Fast Company Report on Bottled Water

Over the last couple decades, bottled water has grown into a major part of our consumer world. With our growing interest in sustainability, how will the bottled water market be effected? To gain some background information, check out this excellent piece from Fast Company about the history and future of bottled water. Here's the opening quote:

Americans spent more money last year on bottled water than on ipods or movie tickets: $15 Billion. A journey into the economics--and psychology--of an unlikely business boom. And what it says about our culture of indulgence.

Click here to read the entire article.

+ Hit The Showers

Here at The Greener Grass, we're starting to focus our efforts around water. Over the next couple weeks, we'll identify the key problems with our current habits in water consumption and ideate concepts as a better alternative.

I recently took a trip to Australia and became aware of their water shortage. While the government develops solutions including desalination, they've asked citizens to limit their showering time to 2-5 minutes.

An article over at Sun Frost did a good job outlining the key problems with a traditional shower. Their main point is that both water and heat need to be considered when designing the system. They've designed a more sustainable and efficient shower system that has a closed top to capture heat. Check out more details of the concept on their site. If you pair this idea with one of the many low flow showerheads on the market (take your pick here), you have a shower experience that is both efficient and enjoyable.

+ Herman Miller and Their Environmental Legacy

While many companies are just now jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, Herman Miller has been environmentally-conscious since the 1950s. Herman Miller, a leading manufacturer of quality ergonomically-designed office furniture, has quite a "green" reputation. In the early 50s, Herman Miller founder D.J. DuPree promised that the company "would be a good corporate neighbor by being a good steward of the environment." DuPree certainly delivered, placing windows in all company buildings (to let in more natural light) and allotting 50 percent of any Herman Miller corporate as "green space." While this may seem like small beans in a world where the polar ice caps are melting into the ocean, it's important that you put it into perspective. In the 1950s, the environment was the last thing corporations were thinking about - so for Herman Miller to even include a statement like that in its corporate values was ground breaking.

In 2004 Herman Miller established a new environmental mandate in accordance with their PerfectVision Program - promising to reduce all waste by the year 2020

In 2007, Herman Miller released its environmentally-focused "A Better World Report," stating, "We believe that sustainability and commercial success should co-exist in a mutually beneficial relationship." In 2004 Herman Miller established a new environmental mandate in accordance with their PerfectVision Program - promising to reduce all waste by the year 2020. A pretty lofty goal, no? Well, 2007 year went on to be a pretty successful year for Herman Miller. Herman Miller was able to successfully cut down on water usage, reduce the volume of solid waste produced, and reduce company-wide energy usage. Additionally, Herman Miller earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for two of their corporate offices. LEED Certification is a pretty big deal, as it's a nationally-accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. While this is definitely good progress, they have a lot of work left to do before 2020.

While all of these "behind the scenes" environmental improvements might be great for the company's annual report - what does Herman Miller offer to consumers? Quite a lot, as it turns out! Today, Herman Miller is focused on manufacturing all of their products in an environmentally sustainable manner, using environmentally-friendly materials. They have a design team (DfE - Design for the Environment) specifically devoted to the company's green design initiatives and its EQAT (Environmental Quality Action Team) committee which creates environmentally sensitive design standards for both new and existing products. Many popular Herman Miller collections including the Caper, Mirra, and Celle have achieved Cradle to Cradle protocol certification as well as Green Guard Indoor Air Quality Certification. Even the ever popular Aeron Chair and all of its parts are made out mostly recycled materials, in an effort to make for a greener production process.

While all of these "behind the scenes" environmental improvements might be great for the company's annual report - what does Herman Miller offer to consumers? Quite a lot, as it turns out!

As far as green companies go, Herman Miller is most definitely a pioneer. Unlike other companies, which are going green due to recently passed legislation, Herman Miller has long had the environment in mind and continues to make strides at reducing waste while creating a high quality product.