Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Ann Benoit is Eco-Chick's West Coast/Art and Design Correspondent. A graphic designer living in Berkeley, California, Ann is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Artists and owner of the design studio Annthology.

http://annthology.com

This author has contributed 49 posts.

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Conform!

1 Comment

04/24/06

Conform’s “UM Carry” bags are at the top of my “things to buy once I secure a job” list. Well designed, eco-friendly and super hip— what more could you ask for in a bag? Conform’s products also have the unique ability to unzip and lie completely flat— perfect for storage and travel.

bags, car, design, Eco-Chick, travel

Non-Plastic "Tupperware" — It Actually Exists

7 Comments

04/07/06

Like many people, the idea of non-plastic “Tupperware” was until recently— an urban legend to me (much like inexpensive, attractive and comfy shoes). I’d heard of people who owned the fabled goods, but had never actually seen it myself or knew where to buy it.

On a mission to find out, I discovered that although not as ubiquitous as Tupperware, non-plastic food containers do exist! These products will long outlast their plastic counterparts and won’t warp, stain or absorb odors the way conventional plastic containers do. Plus the concerns many people have with plastic leaching into food isn’t an issue.

My favorite glass container set is Pyrex’s “10 Piece Storage Set with Lids”— the lids are really durable (think: no leaking of soup into your work bag) and since they’re Pyrex, they can go in the oven/microwave for reheating (although I’d remove the lids). Plus the set is pretty reasonably priced ($20 for 5 containers w/lids).

My other new non-plastic favorite for transporting leftovers/lunch is ReusableBags.com’s “Stainless Steel Vacuum Food Jars/Containers” which hold almost 2 cups liquid/food. They’re the perfect size to fit in a bag (less bulky than the glass ones) and keep the contents hot/cold for long periods of time. Plus they’re made of low nickel content stainless steel, which is safe for liquid/food exposure.

Amazon, bags, eating, Eco-Chick, Food, garden, Home, lunch, plastic, shoes, soup, sport, treehugger, urban

A Coat Check—For Your Bike!

1 Comment

03/27/06

As a new Berkeley resident, I’m slowly discovering all the cool things the town has to offer. Just recently I came across Bikestation, a “non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in urban communities through the development and operation of bike-transit centers and related infrastructure.”

Modeled after European and Japanese examples, Bikestations offer bike services to the community to promote bicycle riding as a clean transportation option. Some of the services include: free attended bicycle-parking, bicyle repairs, bike-sharing, bicycle rentals, and 24-hour bicycle parking depending on the station. Membership is free at most stations, although some charge a minimal fee of $20 a year for all of these great benefits.

Currently there are Bikestations in Berkeley (CA), Embarcadero (CA), Long Beach (CA), Palo Alto (CA), and Seatlle (WA) with plans to open others in Washington DC and Santa Barbara (CA).

bikes, community, Eco-Chick, epa, Europe, Home, model, sport, transportation, urban

To Buy or Not to Buy?

4 Comments

03/21/06

Two years ago I had the pleasure of attending the American Institute of Graphic Artists’ (AIGA) 2004 Gain Conference in New York. Although the bulk of the conference included motivational speech about a designer’s social and environmental responsiblity, one speaker—Christopher Hacker, the then creative & marketing director of Aveda jumped in and spoke about (among other things) how to make environmentally conscious decisions as a consumer (and as a designer).

In addition to his well delivered talk, Hacker gave everyone in the audience a small, well designed pop-up desk piece (printed on recycled paper) entitled, “The Thirteen Key Questions to Ask Before We Design Specify or Buy ANYTHING.” Although a self proclaimed minimalist, (and keeping in mind this conference was over 2 years ago) I kept that piece and still use it today when I am faced with the question, “Should I buy this”?

The Thirteen Key Questions to Ask Before We Design, Specify, or Buy Anything

01 Do we need it?

02 Can we do without it?

03 Can we borrow, rent or get it used?

04 Is the project/product designed to minimize waste?

05 Can it be smaller, lighter or made from fewer materials?

06 Is it designated to be durable or multi-functional?

07 Does it use renewable resources?

08 Is reuse practical and encouraged?

09 Are the product and/or packaging refillable, recyclable or repairable?

10 Is it made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) or reclaimed materials and how much?

11 Is it available in a less toxic form? Can it be made with less toxic materials?

12 Is it available from a socially and environmentally responsible company?

13 Is it made locally?

AIGA, design, designer, Eco-Chick, epa, liver, local, paper, recycle, recycled, resources, reuse, waste