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Product Reviews SIMPLE SHOES reincarnates trash by taking car tires, organic cotton, old plastic bottles and other materials, turning them into sneakers for both men and women BIOGROUPUSA is the distributor of Biobag brand biodegradable and compostable "plastic" bags. Made from cornstarch, vegetable oil and other renewable resources, Biobags are GMO free, shelf stable and will decompose in 10-40 days when exposed to nature's elements. Available in Lawn & Leaf , Tall Kitchen , and Food Waste sizes. The company also produces Biobag Dog , a compostable pooper bag, and Biobag Cat Pan Liners that are non-allergenic and strong enough to handle heavy litter waste. ( 800) 959-2247, www.biobagusa.com. TADGREEN introduces E-Cloth Kitchen Pack , combining a reusable microfiber cloth to remove dust, grime, oil, grease and bacteria on any hard surface, with the most natural cleaning agent - water reducing the amount of chemicals and paper towels by up to 90%. The company also announced E-Cloth Cleansafe ® Lens Cleaning Pack , formulated for sensitive lenses and Screen Cleaning Pack , designed to clean and protect TVs, LCDs, TFTs, plasma screens, laptops, etc. Cleansafe ® does not contain any toxic, solvent, alcohol, or dangerous chemicals and is safe for the environment. (800) 677-4354, www.ecloth.com. TWIST offers natural and green, 100% biodegradable cleaning products. Made from cellulose derived from sustainable tree farms, the European Sponge Cloths easily wipe kitchen and bath surfaces like paper towels and absorb like a sponge. Each sponge equals 17 rolls of paper towels and biodegrades in 8-15 weeks, if buried in the soil. Twist also makes available Loofah Scrubby and Ravioli Scrubby to clean dishes of stuck-on-food. (303) 443-9953, www.twistclean.com.
SOLAR WATCH CASIO's Waveceptor (WVA470) series line of solar atomic watches for men are designed with a large case and stainless steel bezel and buttons and comes with a silver metal band that can be worn with either business or casual attire. This attractive timepiece also features: water resistance up to 100 m., world time, stopwatch and alarm, analog and digital dial code, calendar pre-programmed until 2099, power saving functions, and more. Our tester was able to set-up and change settings with ease, using the owner's manual. No more worrying about replacing dead batteries every 6 months. This is one of the best made solar atomic watches I have seen. (800) 836-8580 , www.mycasio.com.
SUSTAINABLE YOGA MAT MANDUKA launches the BlackMatPro , a sustainable yoga mat. The top surface is designed for superior traction and the dot pattern on the bottom prevents sliding. The mat is heavy and thick in comparison to many of the ones seen in the marketplace. It provides comfort, performance and durability along with superior cushioning for the spine, hips, knees, and elbows on hard floors. The BlackMatPro is also guaranteed to last a lifetime. Comes in two sizes: 71" and 85" extra long. (805) 544-3744, www.manduka.com.
GREEN LAUNDRY CLEANER EARTH FRIENDLY PRODUCTS offers pure, effective and 100% biodegradable green cleaners made from plants and are free of petrochemicals and formaldehyde. The Ultra ECOS All Natural Liquid Laundry Detergent contains organic essential oil of lemongrass with a soy based fabric softener and cellulose based optical brightener that leaves clothes looking clean and smelling great! The ultra concentrated formula will clean a full load of laundry with only one to two ounces. Another great feature of the product is the neutral pH. It is gentle on clothing and is non-irritating for people with sensitive skin. We found this to be one of the best liquid laundry detergents on the market. (800) 335-3267, www.ecos.com.
BIODEGRADABLE CLEANING CLOTHS CANAWIPE introduces Wysi TM Multi-Purpose Wipes, a 100% natural, biodegradable and unscented cloth made from pulp fiber. When mixed with at least a tablespoon of any liquid, the compressed towelette that comes in the shape of a tablet, expands into a strong, absorbent, durable and reusable cleaning cloth. There are no chemicals or artificial smelly scents. They can be used wet or dry and make a great alternative to pre-moistened towelettes, facial tissue, or paper towels. (866) 552-3188, www.canawipe.com
ECO-FRIENDLY DIGITAL BATTERIES FUJI launches ENVIROMAX , a line of eco-friendly Digital Alkaline Batteries that don't contain cadmium, mercury or PVC. This new technology allows them to last longer in high-drain electronic devices; great for digital cameras, hand-held games, CD players, MP3 players, PDAs, headphones, remotes and more. ENVIROMAX batteries are manufactured under sustainable and eco-friendly standards and meet or exceed any digital alkaline battery. Our testers were very pleased with the long lasting performance, especially when placed in devices that required a large amount of power. Excellent product! (800) 467-6856, www.greenfuji.com. INSTANT LIGHTING & CELL PHONE POWER MEDIS TECHNOLOGIES introduces the eco-friendly, recyclable, replaceable Fuel Cell Power System, providing instant power for an LED flashlight and most mobile phones in an emergency (when power goes out). When the fuel cell is finished, recycle and replace with a new power pack. The unit is easy to use and has a long shelf life of about 18 months BEFORE being activated. No need to worry about battery depletion and no pre-charging is required. Once activated, the Fuel Cell Power delivers immediate power to devices. The package includes a 14 LED flashlight, device adapter tips, a 1 watt charger, and a portable generator. (212) 935-8484, www.medistechnologies.com. BIO-RECYCLABLE FLASH DRIVE EarthDrive , manufactured by ATP , was more than 15 years in the making. It is the first "bio-recyclable" high speed USB 2.0 flash drive on the market that is environmental friendly, while also being a solid, dependable storage product. It has a compact design and is one of the most versatile. All components are completely encapsulated protecting it from water, shock and dust, and has a built in security software that allows for password protection of private data. EarthDrive is available in sizes up to 8 gigabytes. (408) 732-5000, www.us.atpinc.com .
Jeffrey Schiller is a special feature columnist and writes for health and environmental publications across the nation. He can be reached at: jeffreys@aztecfreenet.org |
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. Eco SNEAKS CARload is an attractive men's shoe that contains no animal byproducts and is made with hemp, the world's strongest natural fiber and lasts longer than cotton with more natural antimicrobial properties. Eco SNEAKS Satire is a woman's leisure shoe made with hemp and organic cotton. Lightweight and comfortable, with moderate arch support, Satire is easy to slip on and off and goes well with jeans. (866) 896-3708, 
