Green Thing Blog

eBay will soon be launching reusable boxes. This is one of those ideas that probably should have been introduced ages ago, least not for the impact they'll have on minimising waste and packaging, but also for the convenience factor. Part of the beauty about eBay is that anyone can can buy or sell items- but with so many buyers and sellers around the world, that's a lot of individuals and companies packaging stuff. This new service will in theory standardise the sending and receiving process making it easier and better for the environment. The pilot stage kicks off in October and eBay will see how the process works before rolling it out.

(Spotted on FastCompany)

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This is brilliant! It's like the 118 guys and the 'We buy any car crew' all smacked into one ridiculous commercial about electronic waste recycling. What's not to like?! It's a silly and seemlingly effective campaign to get local residents in the Toronto area thinking about how to adequately dispose of ewaste.

To watch some of the other equally amusing videos, visit the City of Toronto's website to see more (Yes, this is a city council funded film ;) ).

(Spotted on Unconsumption)

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Robert Tierney, a retired RAF pilot has been doing some backyard tinkering. With an old radiator, blackboard paint and silver cooking foil he's made a solar hot water system for under £250. To put this into perspective, a commercial system costs upwards of £4,000. This DIY invention combines great all-consuming use of materials as well as looking at better ways of plugging into better energy. There's quite a lot of information out there on DIY solar heaters, so check it out!

(Spotted in the Telegraph)

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Big congrats to Sugru for winning the title of Sustainability's Next Top Model! With over 100 more votes than the other 3 models, Sugru has won by a mile.

Sugru will now receive a Green Thing marketing campaign worth a whopping £50,000 to help them on their way to world domination.

Thank you to everyone who voted!

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In a UK based study conducted by Sheilas' Wheels Insurers, apparently the average male motorist drives 276 miles each year while lost - because he's too proud to ask for directions. 26% of men will wait at least wait at least half an hour before asking for directions, and 12% of male motorists refuse to ask a stranger for help at all! The age old stereotype of men never asking for directions has now become an environmentally significant statistic.

Women are just as culpable to waste fuel from unnecessary driving- but this is not because of refusing to ask for directions, it's because they just have the tendency to get lost. Women drive an extra 256 miles trying to find their way.

The take home message? Someone should invent a phone app for those stubborn men and turned around females ;) But seriously, just ask for directions. It's better for the environment and saves you time and money.

(Spotted in the Telegraph)

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