%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20684.6%2068.1%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20684.6%2068.1%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M444.1%2C29.3h-17.4v14.5h17.4V29.3z%20M36.4%2C68.1l29.3-50.8V0H50.4L32.9%2C36.8L15.5%2C0H0v68.1h16.7V45.8l12.4%2C22.3H36.4z%0A%09%09%20M49.1%2C68.1h16.6V23.4L49.1%2C52.1V68.1z%20M76.6%2C68.1h45V53.8H93.3V41.6h21V27.1h-21V14.8h28.3V0.1h-45V68.1z%20M175.6%2C68.1h17.3v-68%0A%09%09h-16.5v40.3L150%2C0.1h-17.6v68h16.7V27.7L175.6%2C68.1z%20M235.8%2C14.8h15.4V0.1h-47.4v14.7H219v53.2h16.8V14.8z%20M290.3%2C45.9h-17.1%0A%09%09l7.5-15.6h2L290.3%2C45.9z%20M298.7%2C68.1h18l-32.2-68h-5.7l-32%2C68h18l3.3-7.1h27.1L298.7%2C68.1z%20M325.2%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1h-16.7%0A%09%09V68.1z%20M423.7%2C14.8h27.2V0.1H407v68h16.7V14.8z%20M462%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1H462V68.1z%20M564.8%2C34.1c0%2C10.7-7.2%2C19.2-18.5%2C19.2%0A%09%09c-11.4%2C0-18.5-8.5-18.5-19.2s7.1-19.2%2C18.5-19.2C557.6%2C14.9%2C564.8%2C23.4%2C564.8%2C34.1%20M580.6%2C34.1c0-19-14.2-34-34.3-34%0A%09%09c-20.2%2C0-34.3%2C15-34.3%2C34c0%2C19%2C14.1%2C34%2C34.3%2C34C566.4%2C68.1%2C580.6%2C53.1%2C580.6%2C34.1%20M604.8%2C20.5c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C6.6%2C3%2C6.6%2C6.6h14.7C631.8%2C9.1%2C625.1%2C0.1%2C611%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8%0A%09%09c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6%0A%09%09c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8C610.6%2C26.1%2C604.8%2C25.3%2C604.8%2C20.5%20M670%2C20.9h14.7C683.8%2C9.1%2C677.1%2C0.1%2C663%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8%0A%09%09c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8c-5.4-1.6-11.3-2.4-11.3-7.2c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2C667.7%2C14.4%2C670%2C17.3%2C670%2C20.9%0A%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
11 Environmentally Conscious Items for Earth Day
By Alvin Ward
Happy Earth Day! This holiday, which kicked off in 1970, is a time for promoting environmental preservation. But we shouldn’t limit these behaviors to just today. Be mindful of the environment every day with the help of some of these products.
1. BOOGIE BOARD; $30
If you find yourself writing a lot of notes to put on your counter or refrigerator, consider replacing that method with something a little less wasteful. The Boogie Board is a special tablet that lets you write notes just like a regular pen and pencil. The LCD writing surface is easily mountable and comes with a space to store the stylus. There’s also an erase-lock to keep you from losing your notes by accident.
Find it: My Boogie Board
2. LED SMART BULB; $60
LED lightbulbs are more efficient that your typical CFL—and some LEDs even come with a little extra flair. These Bluetooth-enabled bulbs from ilumi allow users to alter the lights from their smartphone: A simple shake turns the light on or off, and it can be programmed to turn on slowly in the morning to simulate the sunrise or change color in time with music.
Find it: Amazon
3. SEED BOMBS; $18
Seed bombs make gardening easy. Just toss a ball wherever you want to see flowers, and they'll do the rest of the work. After rain, the ball disintegrates and the seeds sink into the ground. After one to three weeks, flowers will begin to grow. The process is great for beautifying up an area and also encouraging the local bee and butterfly populations. The flower selection includes five spot, candytuft, baby blue eyes, Siberian wallflower, scarlet flax, and more.
Find it: Amazon
4. SPROUT PENCILS; $18
Sprout Pencil
Writing isn't the only thing these pencils are good for. When you're done using them like normal, pop them in a pot with soil—each pencil contains the seeds of a different plant. This herb-themed pack contains eight different seeded pencils: basil, cilantro, dill, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Find it: Amazon
5. MY GREEN MATTRESS; $489
Lovers of Earth can sleep easier knowing that even their mattresses are organic. My Green Mattress's products are all made with organic and Joma wool from New Zealand. The mattress is firm, so you'll need a plush cover if you like your bed a little softer. Each mattress comes rolled up and springs open when you take off the packaging.
Find it: Amazon
6. DECOMPOSITION BOOK; $7
Decomposition books are a lot like regular notebooks, but these are made with recycled paper—and they’re absolutely adorable. The fun designs range from constellations to jungle animals. Each book is made with soy-ink and contains no chlorine, so it can be recycled again.
Find it: Amazon
7. RECYCLED CRAYON STARS; $10
Paper isn’t the only thing you can get made with recycled materials. Crayon wax is easily melted down and repurposed, so you can purchase crayons made entirely from recycled old ones. These non-toxic scribblers are star-shaped and come in boxes of 20.
Find it: Amazon
8. PRESERVE TOOTHBRUSHES; $17
The handles of these green toothbrushes are made from recycled number five plastic—the kind used to make yogurt cups—and are specially curved to help you reach those hard to reach places. (The whole toothbrush isn't made of recycled materials, though; the bristles are brand new.)
Find it: Amazon
9. SOLAR POWERED CELLPHONE CHARGER; $40
Keeping your devices charged on the go can be a challenge, especially when you're spending extended periods of time in the great outdoors. When there's no outlet nearby, this solar-powered charger helps you stay connected with a USB port. Perfect for travelers, the device is dust-, water-, and shock-resistant, and it can be recharged between 500 and 800 times.
Find it: Amazon
10. LIVE CLEAN SHAMPOO; $8
Besides taking shorter showers, there are plenty of other ways to help the environment in your own bathroom. This special eco-friendly shampoo from Live Clean uses renewable and sustainable ingredients. “Live Clean respects the eco-conscious choice to preserve and make as little environmental impact as possible,” they explain on their website.
Find it: Amazon
11. BRITA WATER BOTTLE; $17
Say goodbye to disposable plastic bottles of water and hello to this portable filtered bottle. Simply fill up the bottle at any sink and the built-in Brita filter does the rest. It can filter up to 40 gallons of tap water, and gets rid of the particulates and chlorine taste and odor that some people find unappetizing.
Find it: Amazon