What are Recycled Dog Collars Made out of?

AKC Eco-Friendly Dog Collars are double woven from recycled plastic bottles, and surprisingly are flexible and comfortable (well ok I haven't actually tried one on, but they must be ok since he's been very happy with it). The clasp and leash ring are also made of partially recycled plastic and steel, and the whole manufacturing process is pesticide and herbicide free. The packaging, also made from recycled cardboard, has made a great little drawing pad for the kideos while I write this post. Reuse, recycle and all that right? Oh and most of all these recycled dog collars are very affordable at about $6-$9 so if he does decide he wants an eco-friendly snack it doesn't hurt the wallet quite so much.

While looking for these AKC recycled dog collars I happened upon other recycled dog collars for sale on Amazon so below are a few featured brands to check out for the eco-geek pooch in your lives.

Check out these bestselling eco-friendly Recycled Dog Collars Below

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Planet Dog Cozy Hemp Adjustable Collar, Blue, Medium (12-19") List Price: $16.99 Sale Price: $13.77 You save: $3.22 (19%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Planet Dog 5' Natural Hemp Leash with Fleece-Lined Handle, Blue List Price: $17.99 Sale Price: $13.61 You save: $4.38 (24%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Update: It has been six months since this post and Barley's recycled dog collar is still going strong - these recycled dog collars from AKC seem to be a bit hard to find but if you can get your paws on one you'll love it.

AKC Recycled Dog Collars: 10lb Fluff Ball Chew-a-holic Proof is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Each set includes a fork, knife, spoon and chopsticks all snug as a bug in a rug in a nice durable utensil holder made from RPET, recycled PET plastic (often called RePEat) which is made from recycled plastic bottles.

• These Bamboo utensils are heat and stain resistant and won't absorb flavors so you don't have to worry about chocolate pudding flavored pasta.
• They are sealed with a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant that has been tested and contains NO heavy metals that could leach into food.
• They are strong too, much stronger than those pesky plastic forks that always break and you end up trying to eat with a one or two tined fork by the end of the meal.

The RePEat utensil holders are available in a number of colors and styles so you can pick up a different one for each member of the family. We actually bought them as camping utensils but we have found there are so many more uses, and we can feel good about turning down plastic utensils where ever we go. Yes we are eco-geeky like that. As it turns out so is Oprah as the To-Go Ware was featured on Oprah's Earth Day show. (just a bit of eco-geek trivia for you)

Bamboo To-Go Ware utensil sets are for sale at a number of locations including Amazon (where you can often find them with free shipping), Whole Foods, REI and through the To-Go Ware web site itself.

This Post Shared on Real Food Wednesday

To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensils and Eco-Friendly Utensil Holder is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

My feet stopped unable to leave the mall. They had to know how they'd fit - these soft raspberry pink suede Jambu sandals with rugged black partially recycled rubber soles and cool feminine details. My feet slipped into the Contoured Memory Foam footbed and immediately relaxed. These Jambu shoes are the high heel equivalent for a hiker chic - flashy and stylish yet I could climb a mountain in a fuchsia pink minute or dance down Broadway with no blisters.

It was a match made in shoe heaven - they will sit proudly next to my Keens and Merrels only just a bit more prominent, eagerly awaiting a warm Spring day.

These Jambu Planet Vegan shoes are available for sale at Amazon, Endless.com and PlanetShoes. (PlanetShoes, Endless and Amazon all offer Free Shipping)

From Jambu: A sporty take on the Mary Jane, the Jambu Planet Vegan is a casual shoe with some kick. The cut-out designs through the leather upper give breathability. Heel and toe bumpers provide added protection and the adjustable Mary Jane strap provides a snug fit.  Unlike other outdoor brands, Jambu shoes are designed by women for women, therefore, details such as floral motifs, contrast stitching and materials keep Jambu a step ahead creating an outdoor fashion feel. With its Memory foam footbed, Jambu will cradle your foot and keep you comfortable all day. Shoes use partially recycled rubber outsoles and recycled and recyclable packaging.

Find more Jambu footwear styles for sale on eBay below.

Check out these Jambu footwear styles for sale on Amazon too.

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Jambu Women's Shoreline Flat Sale Price: $99.00

J-41 Women's Tahoe Fashion Sneaker Sale Price: $89.00 - $89.99

My Raspberry Pink Jambu Shoe Love Affair is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Why is the Samsung Reclaim Eco-Friendly?

The Reclaim is made from 80% recyclable materials and even sports a case made from 40% corn instead of petroleum - so if you have a corny sense of humor (oops did I just say that?) you'll have bragging rights, and a great conversation starter.

Best news though is that you can get the Samsung Reclaim for cheap - only one penny at Amazon! (well ok you have to get a new service contract but isn't that how it always works.) There are plenty 'o Samsung Reclaim for sale for cheap on eBay of course but you'll have to fight for 'em.

Bottom line though is how does the Reclaim compare to other non eco-friendly cell phones? Pretty well based on some of the reviews I've looked through. Here's the basics:

Samsung Reclaim pros and cons:

Pros:
The battery life is awesome - very energy efficient
Very clean menus and navigation
Fast internet and bluetooth compatible
Easily customizable quick link buttons (Facebook, Google Maps, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube etc...)
Plenty of Samsung Reclaim accessories
And best of all of course is that it is Eco-Friendly!

Cons:
Qwerty keyboard is small so if you have big hands it may take some getting used to
The GPS feature only works with Sprint Navigation
Some have complained the LCD is fragile

If you dig eco-friendly products and want to give this green beauty a try take a peak below for a cheap Samsung Reclaim for sale from eBay or if you need a service plan your best bet is to get one for a penny on Amazon (although last I looked they were sold out, but they do have a huge selection of cool Samsung Reclaim cases for sale.)

My Corny Phone Tastes Like Butter: Samsung Reclaim an Eco-Friendly Phone is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

I reached for my trusty Maglite to protect myself with its hot bright glow to throw off the specialized thermoreceptors on the bats nose, only to find to my horror the Energizers were dead - as I soon would be too if I didn't find another means of escape.

Fortunately for me I had planned ahead - I reached for my PowerGenix NiZN rechargeable batteries loaded my Maglite like a wild west gunslinger and blasted myself out of trouble faster than you can say Environmentally friendly 100% recyclable 30% more powerful PowerGenix Rechargeable AA Batteries!

Well, ok fine you caught me, I wasn't spelunking in South America surrounded by hungry vampire bats this morning but I was trying out some very cool new rechargeable batteries from PowerGenix. These Nickel-Zinc (NiZN) batteries claim to be 30% more powerful than Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries and equivalent to standard 1.5v disposable alkaline batteries. That simply wasn't true - the nickel-zinc batteries hands down beat out the name brand alkaline batteries as well!

I did a side by side comparison with two of the same flashlights one loaded with a fresh package of Energizer Max alkaline batteries and one with PowerGenix Nickel-Zinc rechargeable batteries (freshly charged in the included 1.5 hour quick charger (which took closer to 3 hrs for the first time charging) - the PowerGenix batteries were brighter and had a larger light radius than the Energizers. I even switched the batteries between the flashlights to make sure there wasn't a difference and the PowerGenix still came out ahead.

The next round of tests matched up the PowerGenix NiZN rechargeable batteries against Energizer 2500 mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries and this is when the PowerGenix really shined - yes pun intended. While I'm not sure without using a light meter the difference was at least the claimed 30% brighter (probably more like 31.475% but I'm just guessing). I didn't have time to test my Duracell rechargeable batteries since Brandi claimed the NiZN batteries right quick for her camera.

The only downside to my cool rechargeable battery review experiment and negative mark against the PowerGenix batteries was when the plastic cover on the battery scraped against a sharp edge in the flashlight and tore. Possibly a rare fluke but my new toy now has an imperfection.

Popular Science magazine honored these PowerGenix Nickel-Zinc batteries with a Best of What's New Award in the Gadgets category recently and I can see why - they are the best rechargeable batteries I've tried so far. I only wish I had my old digital camera that refused to work with standard batteries - I'm guessing I could have used that camera for a few more years powered by PowerGenix Nickel-Zinc rechargeable batteries - or perhaps I really will tackle those Desmodus rotundus after all as long as I have my new PowerGenix batteries.

"Nickel-Zinc is the most recyclable battery chemistry on the market. Unlike many other materials, both nickel and zinc can be recycled again and again while maintaining their physical and chemical properties. Plus the zinc electrode contains no lead, cadmium or mercury.

PowerGenix batteries are certified as recyclable by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Coalition (RBRC), a nonprofit public service organization dedicated to recycling rechargeable batteries. The batteries can be recycled at more than 50,000 RBRC collection sites in the U.S. and Canada."

PowerGenix NiZN Rechargeable AA Batteries Saved Me From Vampire Bats! is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

After all the excitement of gift opening is done what do we do with all that used wrapping paper? Well in the spirit of eco-friendliness and originality I have come up with a few fun ideas for re-using wrapping paper - even better than composting the biodegradable wrapping paper - trust me...

1. Make a huge wrapping paper pile and have everyone jump in it while singing Silent Night, at which point the crotchety neighbor next door calls the police to have you arrested. Good family fun - everyone gets matching black fingerprint fingers.

2. Shred it all up punch holes in your walls and stuff it full - the added insulation will make your home more energy efficient. Plus the process of punching holes in the walls makes for a lively stress reliever perfect for family get togethers.

3. Make three ten foot balls of used wrapping paper and roll it around your back yard until you set the world record for largest snow man. Use the temporary fame and status to educate the world on the merits of reusing gift wrap.

4. Gather all your neighbors and have everyone spread their shiny reflective foil wrapping paper out across all the streets and roof tops - then connect them to The Grid where it will provide enough energy to power everyone's christmas lights for 3 years - not to mention allow Santa to fly his new eco-friendly XL3000 Turbo Electric Sleigh back to the North Pole.

5. Ball up each piece of wrapping paper and have a family gift wrap fight. It doesn't serve an eco-friendly purpose but it sure is fun to pepper uncle Dave with his own gift wrap - a little pay back for giving you socks for Christmas... again.

6. Incinerate it making sure to collect the toxic fumes and ash in large insulated balloons that will float up into the atmosphere where the heat and pressure will cause an unexpected chemical reaction which releases oxygen and absorbs enough of the carbon emissions in the world to end global warming. (Hey it's my blog I can make stuff up if I want)

6 1/2. Sort all the paper into piles - Re-use, Recycle and Compost. Yes it is boring and that's what everyone else tells you to do but at least you aren't getting arrested, punching holes in your walls, getting frostbite while setting a world record, illegally paving city streets, getting an eye poked out with flying gift wrap, or playing with toxic fumes and ash.

If you have more fun ideas for what to do with your used wrapping paper leave a comment below. Have fun this holiday season and have a blast with your gift wrap!

6 1/2 Things to Do With Used Wrapping Paper is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Looking for a great gift for that music lover in your life? Check out these eco-friendly recycled Vintage Vinyl LP Record coasters from Vinylux. Vinylux has a unique selection of LP record coasters, party bowls, and even 45 rpm Record Clocks in several fun genres - Rock, Country, Crooners, Heavy Metal, Soul and 70's/80's Pop.

These hand made 4" recycled record coasters are fun conversation starters featuring a random selection of artists from all eras of music - which makes the "vintage" in the name a bit of a misnomer, but they still make a fun unique gift for those audiophiles on your Christmas list. Pick up a couple sets of the record snack bowls, turn on the tunes, get out the groovy duds and have yourself a mighty fine music themed party. (Just don't try to play the coasters on your turn table, beer and The Village People shouldn't be mixed)

Hey, You Put Your Beer on My Village People! is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

If you and your family are Monopoly junkies you'll get a kick out of this monopoly game variation. I was perusing eBay's World of Good and came across this earth-friendly find - Earthopoly. Just like the rest of the Opoly family of games Earthopoly is a board game in which you collect properties. But in an earth friendly twist you increase your property values by collecting Carbon Credits and trading them in for Clean Air - how eco-cool is that? If you are bad, Instead of getting sent to jail you get sent to the dump - yowza! And if you hit the big time in clean energy you can advance to "Go Green" and collect mucho Carbon Credits. This sounds like an amazingly fun game - it has my green blood a pumping.

From the reviews I have read this is a winner for kids and parents. The kids enjoy learning about the environment and the whole family gets to learn about nature, carbon tax, wind power, and pristine environments.

Not only is Earthopoly a game about the earth it is entirely eco-friendly itself.

* The ink is vegetable oil-based ink.
* The monopoly game pieces are either made by nature or completely recyclable.
* Game box made from 100 percent recycled Chip board.
* All the paper is recyclable and is made with 10 percent recycled pulp that comes from a mill that purchases pulp that is monitored by a responsible third party forest management group.
* Green Power was purchased for the electricity used to manufacture the paper for the box (renewable energy in the form of wind, hydro, and biogas).

Earthopoly An Earth Friendly Monopoly Game is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Now every time you check the time you'll remember the fun sunny day you spent bicycling with the fam on Labor Day.

Below you'll find recycled bicycle part clocks for sale and perhaps a few other recycled clocks from eBay's World of Good members thrown in for good measure.

Recycled Clocks Made from Bicycle Sprockets is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Reynolds Wrap now makes 100% recycled aluminum foil made from sterilized food safe aluminum from post consumer and post industrial sources including cookware and, you guessed it, aluminum stadium seats. Cool huh? But what about that gum I saw you put under your seat (bet you didn’t know I saw that?) well, the process of melting down the recycled aluminum requires heating the metal to more than 1200°F, which burns off any debris or gum in the metal. Once it turns into a molten liquid, the aluminum is sent through a filtration process, poured and rolled into thin sheets.

Not only does this help reduce the mining of new aluminum ore you can also recycle the warp again in a continuous circle of eco-friendly recyclitude (yes I just made that up). Visit earth911.com to find a recycling center near you that will take aluminum foil.

To top off the eco-coolness of Reynolds Wrap 100% recyclable wrap the box and core is made from recycled paper and the label is printed with water based inks.

If you'd like to give it a try Reynolds has a 50 cent coupon available HERE

Hey You’re Sitting on My Reynolds Wrap: New Recycled Aluminum Foil is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies