Earth Day Tote Bag Design Contest

April 22^nd is Earth Day around the world!

Ecobags.com and Spreadshirt.com have partnered to create an Earth Day Tote Design Contest!

Win prizes and praise (as well as commissions) for your artwork and spread the word about Earth Day, the international day to celebrate the planet and environmentalism.

CONTEST DATES: April 1- April 10, Winners announced April 11th

Prizes & Notoriety

From Spreadshirt

• One of three 1st positions in the Bestseller Category on Spreadshirt Designer between April 11-22, 2012 (one of the most trafficked areas of the site).
• One of three 1st positions in the Holidays & Occasions/Earth Day category in the Spreadshirt Designer, April 11-22, 2012
• Winners' designs will be featured in the Spreadshirt Earth Day Newsletter, sent to the Spreadshirt house list
• Winning design will be featured in the main teaser on the Spreadshirt.com homepage.

From ecobags.com

• First Place: $50 Spreadshirt certificate to print your design on ECOBAGS® brand totes
• Second &Third Place: $25 Spreadshirt certificate to print your designs on ECOBAGS® brand totes.

Contest Steps and Rules

1. Create an original Earth Day design that will work well on a tote bag
2. Like ecobags.com on Facebook!
3. Register at Spreadshirt.com as a user. Like them on Facebook!
4. Follow instructions for Create Designs & Products using these art requirements.*
5. Be sure to tag your design with EARTHDAYCONTEST
6. Winners will be chosen by Spreadshirt and Eco-Bags staff on April 10th and announced on April 11th.

*Artwork offered on Spreadshirt.com becomes art in the public domain. Visitors to the site will be able to choose & buy your design - you set the price. This is a requirement to participate in the contest.

Earth Day Tote Bag Design Contest

April 22^nd is Earth Day around the world!

Ecobags.com and Spreadshirt.com have partnered to create an Earth Day Tote Design Contest!

Win prizes and praise (as well as commissions) for your artwork and spread the word about Earth Day, the international day to celebrate the planet and environmentalism.

CONTEST DATES: April 1- April 10, Winners announced April 11th

Prizes & Notoriety

From Spreadshirt

• One of three 1st positions in the Bestseller Category on Spreadshirt Designer between April 11-22, 2012 (one of the most trafficked areas of the site).
• One of three 1st positions in the Holidays & Occasions/Earth Day category in the Spreadshirt Designer, April 11-22, 2012
• Winners' designs will be featured in the Spreadshirt Earth Day Newsletter, sent to the Spreadshirt house list
• Winning design will be featured in the main teaser on the Spreadshirt.com homepage.

From ecobags.com

• First Place: $50 Spreadshirt certificate to print your design on ECOBAGS® brand totes
• Second &Third Place: $25 Spreadshirt certificate to print your designs on ECOBAGS® brand totes.

Contest Steps and Rules

1. Create an original Earth Day design that will work well on a tote bag
2. Register at Spreadshirt.com as a user.
3. Follow instructions for Create Designs & Products using these art requirements.*
4. Be sure to tag your design with EARTHDAYCONTEST
5. Winners will be chosen by Spreadshirt and Eco-Bags staff on April 10th and announced on April 11th.

*Artwork offered on Spreadshirt.com becomes art in the public domain. Visitors to the site will be able to choose & buy your design - you set the price. This is a requirement to participate in the contest.

Herbal Spa Moisturizer, Courtesy of Bonnie's Herbals

On Tuesday, Sharon Rowe (ECOBAGS.com founder & CEO), was a guest on the Mary Jones Show on WDRC-AM. Sharon and Mary talked about Sharon's new hobby, making homemade soaps & lotions.

Here is the info on the Calendula Moisturizing Cream that Sharon described. Thanks to Bonnie's Herbals for the recipe and for permission to share with Mary's listeners and YOU!

Calendula Moisturizing Cream (makes approx. 19 oz of cream)

2/3 cup calendula infused olive or jojoba oil

¾ cup coconut oil

½ oz beeswax

1/3 cup aloe vera gel

2/3 cup distilled water

10 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:
1. Pour calendula oil into 16 oz heat proof measuring cup
2. Add coconut oil in until it gets to the 9 oz mark on the cup
3. Add pieces of beeswax to the cup until it reaches 10 oz mark
4. Put the cup into a pan partially filled with water, place over medium heat, heat and occasionally stir with a chopstick or spoon until the oils and beeswax melt and dissolve into a uniform liquid.

5. Remove the cup from the hot water and allow the mixture to cool to body temperature. As it cools the mixture will become thick and opaque. Stir it as it cools to keep the consistency smooth and uniform.

6. When the oils are cooling, poor the distilled water into a measuring cup and put in the pan to heat it to body temperature.
7. When the oil and water mixtures are both at approx body temperature pour them into a blender, food processor or a high speed mixer like a vitamix (set on low). First put the aloe into the blender, Pour the water

into the machine, then slowly add the oil mixture by pouring a thin drizzle into the whirling water. It will begin to thicken and sputter, continue to process until the oil and water have blended together into a thick, creamy liquid. This could take 5-10 minutes in a blender or food processor and only about 20 -30 seconds in a vitamix.

8. Add the essential oils and then blend for a moment more.

9. Pour the cream into very clean, dry jars, filling them to the top. You want to tap them to eliminate the air bubbles. I find that my creams last for a minimum of 6 months.

Follow Sharon @sharona357

Follow ECOBAGS @ecobags.

Plastic Bags Don't START as Litter

Who writes our students' textbooks and where do the authors get their information? Recently we read an article about the influence of the American Chemistry Council over the environmental curriculum in some of California's schools. The referenced article describes in detail the new section on the "Advantages of Plastic Shopping Bags!"

All we can say is, "WHAT??"

How is it possible that the lobbying group that worked so hard to defeat California's statewide plastic bag ban and threatens to sue cities that adopt separate measures, is now affecting school children's curricula? Follow the money trail.

In addition to the various changes to the text to promote a "balanced" look at single use bags, the editor of the curriculum removed a mention of plastic bags as “litter” in the teachers’ edition after the ACC's representative complained. “To be clear,” wrote the Ogilvy executive (who represents the ACC), “plastic bags don’t start as litter; they become litter. …” Now, when the word litter appears in the text, it is prefaced with “can become” or is used as a verb.

A lot of people worked very hard to create this new environmental curriculum, which has garnered a lot of praise. We are concerned that the influence of the ACC means that the undeniable harmful effects of plastic bags are being sugar-coated (or should we say plastic-coated) to promote their continued use.

Ode to Ann

Today we're celebrating with our friend and colleague, Ann Bianchi Quota, who's leaving our team to enjoy her family life and pursue her artistic career. Ann's been with the company, formally, for 4 years but she and Sharon have worked (and played) together as founders/partners of the hugely popular Ossining Arts after school program for years.

We polled our team and asked them to bid adieu to Ann. Here are their thoughts:

Ann Bianchi Quota is moving on to the next phase of her life. She has been with ECOBAGS on and off for many years, and has been helpful to the growth of the company. Ann has really been a champion of the authentic holistic natural movement (before it realized it was a movement). She likes, no loves our customers. We can often overhear her making a one on one connection with a new wholesale customer on the phone.

Besides the sense of humor, I will miss arguing with her in a tongue in cheek way. Whenever I was sick, she often had a "natural" solution. I would resist taking it because it wasn't made by some one in a "lab jacket". We would chuckle and I'd give in.

Tutti i migliori ad Ann, Alberto e la loro famiglia. Arrivederci per ora.

Andrew D

It has been my pleasure to work with Ann these last several years. With her kind and gentle manner, she tries to bring a calmness to all situations, even incorporating Feng Shui to our offices. I will miss her vast knowledge of all things natural, homeopathic and ways to clean-up and protect our environment. I wish her health and happiness as she leaves to pursue new interests.

Susan U

Ann has worked with us since 2006, and more formally since 2008, but she's been an environmental activist since her youth, growing up down river in Dobbs Ferry. Ann brought her love of the Hudson Valley and healthy living with her everyday to work, engaging and enjoying the customers she served and working to build Eco-Bags, a business she believes in. Ann works from her heart and she will be missed. She's off on new adventures with her husband, Alberto and two girls, Clare and Sonja.

Sharon R

Since I first started at Ecobags, Ann had always been supportive, her "mothering" instincts kick in. Whenever I wasn't feeling well, she would make me tea and offer me holistic medicine When I made a mistake, she supported and encouraged me to move on, and not let it bother me so much. I'm going to miss her very much.
Lisa P

Ann's more family than employee. While I'm happy she's moving on to spend more time with her husband and family I'm going to miss her warm, gentle spirit, her true love of the natural world and health. We've had a lot of fun together at trade shows, where she has been the ultimate ambassador for our brand and a true scout for new relationships & connections. Annie, enjoy your wonderful family and take a walk at the river for me! Hugs.

Ellen O

In the short time that I’ve known Ann, she has shown herself to be dedicated to her work and to the environment. She has a breath of knowledge of all things Eco-Bags! Her knowledge is thorough both with Eco-Bags products, its mission, and its “bear” of a computer system! (Blake’s description of Netsuite). She’s a natural at sales, because she really cares about and uses ECOBAGS products.

Sitting next to Ann I can guarantee that valuing sustainable practices is not just a part of Ann’s job but of her life. And it’s not just the overuse of plastics that Ann cares about - she also possesses considerable knowledge of environmental policy and laws, sharing that wealth of knowledge with our customers to help guide them in their decision making.

As a coworker, Ann is always there to guide and assist and share what she knows. She’s generous in lending support and guidance and tips for best practices. As artists, Ann and I share a visual learning style, so she’s been great at passing along tips for learning systems stuff too! My fondest memory of Ann is visual - I will remember her friendly eyes peeking through the gap between her computer monitors while I seek her advice and insight on one topic or other. I’ll miss Ann and wish her the best in her creative pursuits and future endeavors!

Susan A

Ann - I hope that you enjoy every step of your new life. Breathe it all in and seize each day.

Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more,

talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and good things will be yours.

Swedish Proverb

Dianne A

Ann - Sorry to see you go. I will miss your knowledge, expertise and passion for Eco-Bags ... Best of luck in whatever you decide to do next.

Alan S

And although today is Ann's last formal day in the office we know we'll see her, play with her and advocate for the planet together. Onward, friend!

Art & Produce Bags Converge

Imagine my thrill when I got my New Yorker Magazine and on the very front page was a beautifully drawn illustration of a shopper at a farmers market using a CLOTH produce bag. We introduced reusable cloth produce bags in 1992 and almost twenty years later the concept made it to reality on the cover of a magazine that reaches readers worldwide. Yippee!

We called the illustrator, Peter de Seve, and got his permission to share this image with you. Check out Peter's website to see his body of work, including familiar characters from the blockbuster "Ice Age."

BTW - I asked Peter if he purposefully drew in the reusable cloth produce bag. He said he added it unconsciously! Now that's amazing because it means he's seeing people using reusables, he's using reusables and we're moving toward a world less plastic.

By Sharon Rowe, Eco-Bags Products Founder & CEO

Buh-Bye to Dry Cleaner Plastic Bags

I recently signed up for a program with our dry cleaner that makes me smile. They pick up and deliver our dry cleaning and it now comes home in this cool bag.

We paid $10 to trade wasteful, single use plastic bags and annoying staples for our very own clean bag! It travels back and forth with our laundry and the company takes back hangers, too.

Some might say, "why did you pay THEM for a bag when they're saving the cost and effort of bagging each item separately?" That's a legitimate question. In an ideal world they'd give me the bag or extra coupons for being a good citizen :).

My answer is, "because I can and because I want to reduce waste and teach our children about that, too." This is a simple way to reinforce good actions on the part of a local company.

Next up? BPA-free register receipts (they use coated receipts that may or may not contain BPA) and bags made from more sustainable materials! One step at a time.

What simple ideas are you implementing to make big impacts?

Summer Picnic Tips

Here in the Northeast we've missed spring completely. Our weather can be summed up in two words: Damp and Cold.

In keeping with our positive, forward looking spirits, we're planning for a warm, sunny holiday weekend. Let the picnics begin!

Last week we had a guest interview spot with author & talk radio host, Mary Jones on her show, Leatherneck & Lace. The topic was "Greening Up Your Summer Entertaining." and we shared a few basics with Mary & her audience. Here are a few she really liked:

1. Wine tastes better from a glass! Buy some inexpensive summer wine glasses and say "no thank you" to plastic.
2. Ditto for silverware and plates: Your local Goodwill (or favorite thrift shop) always has silverware that's quite cheap. Who CARES if it matches?? Or, choose from the wide assortment of compostable plates and dinnerware that are now on the market. The bottom line is that products that we use once shouldn't be on the planet forever.
3. Check your candles for chemicals: Ingredients in your citronella candles can include petrochemicals and artificial fragrances. These candles, while quite effective for bugs, can also irritate eyes and aggravate allergies & asthma! They're also considered to be poisonous to dogs.
   
4. Single use plastic water bottles are SO last year. Get with the program and bring water in BPA-free, reusable containers. Your local water (probably) tastes better and it's safer for you and your family.
   
5. Local food is yummy food! Grow your own or support local farms & farmers markets. Find the market nearest you with the farmers market finder (over to the right on this page).
   

Do you have more suggestions? Tell us about your green picnic plans and we'll post them here or on our Facebook page. We'd love to hear from you!

Thanks again to Mary Jones!

Big Plastic Sues ChicoBag

Nationwide, 21 communities have chosen to ban disposable plastic bags, those ubiquitous nuisances that get caught in trees, pollute rivers and streams, accumulate in giant "garbage patches" in our oceans, threaten wildlife when ingested, and even when "recycled" present a host of additional problems. Is it really "green" to ship plastic waste around the world to be recycled under toxic conditions by low-wage workers in other countries?

Whenever and wherever these bans have popped up – Oregon is considering a state-wide ban at present, while Evanston, IL is debating becoming the 22 nd city to ban them – the Big Plastic industry has been ready to wage misinformation campaigns, trying to persuade local citizens that plastic is somehow the better choice for bags.

Now Big Plastic has taken its campaign to a whole new level, actually SUING a member of our Green Business Network™ (and our good friends and business allies) for its marketing reusable bags as the preferable option. Check out Green America's editorial on this topic below, and please share this news widely, on your blog, via Facebook and Twitter, and via traditional media. Submit this editorial to your own local newspaper for inclusion. It's a message that needs be shared. Thanks!

Ode to Aliana

Today is Aliana's last official day with Eco-Bags. She's leaving us to start on a new adventure that includes travel and exploration!

Aliana has filled so many roles that it’s difficult to describe how much we’ll miss her! We took a few minutes to pay tribute to her contributions and wholeheartedly thank her for her passion & commitment to "cleaning up the planet, one bag at a time."TM

Aliana, at the core, has a genuine passion about the environment; she’s one of the people who sincerely challenged us to be true to the ideals of the movement. This extended to the odd practice of her selecting lunch for us at Mrs. Greens on Earth Day. It was always an adventure for us meat eaters. We were treated to vegetarian delights: grains, dumplings, burgers, vegetables and greens. Lastly, in an age where the internet generation types with their thumbs, she is one of the fastest touch typists I've ever seen. (Andrew)

What will we do without Aliana's discerning eye and quiet humor? I am truly happy for her to be getting out into the world. I am sure she will bring her wit and her real love of nature and the planet to whatever and whoever she meets in her travels.

You can count on Aliana quietly (but vehemently) to remind us all of our environmental goals with a smile. We have missed her presence in the NY office while she worked remotely in DC. She has a wonderful writer's voice and we hope to hear from her as she travels and explores the world out there. (Ann)

Aliana is a very skilled writer. Her fun, witty posts on our Eco-Bags blog and our Facebook page always captured the spirit of our company and reflected her love for the planet and authentically green products. She was a stand FOR brand integrity with regard to product selection and AGAINST adding trendy products with questionable value to our site.

Aliana is direct and practical, a person who walks the walk of reduce, reuse, recycle & rethink every day. I’ll miss Aliana as a really valuable voice in our company and an outstanding writer/partner who caught every typo and grammatical error in my work and made every piece better because that she enhanced it.

I know she’s off to great adventures and can’t wait to see where she lands next – she’s one smart cookie and a total sucker for a cute dog face, particularly if it's a rescue pup! (Ellen)

Aliana - she came to us straight out of college brimming with enthusiasm and deeply committed to leading a life less-wasteful. She has been a beacon of truth, always honest and forthright with her direction and exceptional with our customers and brand. And..she can write. Aliana has a gift with words; weaving thought and thoughtfulness together with a clear and readable voice. I am sad she is leaving Eco-Bags but thrilled that she is going on a journey, both literally and physically, to discover all she can, traveling around the world. Aliana, you rock. (Sharon)

Aliana is conscientious and attentive to our customers’ needs. She has a very helpful tone when on the telephone and you can always count her to follow-up with an email. Her warmth and humor have been very evident in her blog writings. She is truly living the company motto of "Be the Change."(Susan)

Go forth and prosper, Aliana! We’ll miss you! (And come back for the holiday party in 2011)