Have a Green 4th of July

The fourth of July is less than a week away, so it's time to start planning.  From barbecues, to fireworks, to getting to your celebration destination, this holiday can have a big impact on the environment. 

This 4^th of July, show your dedication to the environment while celebrating the birth of our country by following the quick tips below.

1) Have a sustainable barbecue.   Ditch the conventional paper plates and plastic utensils for compostable or reusable items.  Look for vegetarian recipes.  Use propane for grilling, as it’s more efficient and uses less CO2.  If charcoal grilling is the only option, look for environmentally friendly charcoal.  Shop for local and organic foods.

2) Look for greener fireworks.  If it’s your tradition to set off fireworks, look for fireworks rich in nitrogen, says Earth911.com.  They can be more pricey, but release less smoke into the environment.  Or, you can always choose to watch a public fireworks display and save some money as well. 

3) Ecofriendly decorations.  Instead of buying plastic, one-use tablecloths, use old tablecloths and decorate them with patriotic designs.  Provide a fun activity for kids and have them decorate an old sheet to use as a 4^th of July banner.  Look for solar lights to brighten the outdoors than can also be used all summer long.  Also, rather than throw away your decorations keep them for the following year and save time and money. 

4) Sustainable transportation.  Choose a local 4^th of July celebration and avoid traffic and car emissions and walk or bike to your destination.  Or, if the celebration is further away, look for a bus route or carpool.  To motivate the kids, have them look for red, white and blue crafts around the house to decorate their bikes and wagons and have a 4^th of July parade on the way there. 

5) Avoid food waste.  If you’re hosting a party, invite guests to bring their reusable containers and take food home.  Or, bring the leftovers to work and share with your coworkers.  

Happy 4th of July from EcoGreenOffice!  

Have a light eco-footprint this 4th of July and walk or bike to the local public fireworks display.  You'll avoid transportation emissions and the emissions that come with setting off your own fireworks. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources

http://earth911.com/news/2010/06/21/8-ways-to-green-4th-of-july/

http://voices.yahoo.com/eco-friendly-4th-july-party-decorations-3641665.html?cat=57

Why Businesses Use Lanyards In The Office

Most every business these days have identity and security measures in place.  One of the easiest ways to identify employees and guests is by the use of lanyards.  Most lanyards have the company logo, contain employee picture, signature and electronic swipe to access secure areas.

Benefits of Lanyards:
- Protection of proximity cards
- Recognition of staff and guests
- Useful in meetings and conventions
- Protection of ID cards
- Security and theft prevention
- Custom branding and logo of business

EcoGreenOffice now provides custom imprint lanyards for any type of business or organization.

Ways to Promote Your Business — Even at the Beach

In case you haven't heard, EcoGreenOffice recently launched an online catalog for promotional products.  With more than 3,000 suppliers, this online site helps companies to publicize themselves using almost every ad specialty available.  The site also offers environmentally friendly products.

Used by almost every business in America, promotional products make up an almost $17 billion dollar industry.  Studies have shown that promotional products outlast almost any type of advertising, having the ability to stay visible to your customers for years to come.

Don't forget to peruse the Back to the Beach themed section of our catalog, as many of your customers and business partners head to the oceanfront over the next few months.  Options include everything from Barbados sunglasses, to tote bags, to coolers.

Environmentally friendly Back to the Beach products include BPA free sports bottles, recycled plastic luggage tags, a biodegradable beach ball kit and more. 

Ad your company's logo to the ecofriendly, biodegradable bottle beach kit featured above and be remembered throughout the summer. 

How to Cook Up Sustainable Barbecues this Summer

Memorial Day weekend may be over, but grilling season has just begun.  From zero-waste, to solar powered grills there are many ways to make your summer barbecues more sustainable.    

If you have a grill at work, share these tips with coworkers.  Outdoor cooking sessions with colleagues are excellent for morale and are likely more cost effective than eating out.

1) If you’re in the market for a new grill, look for an ecofriendly option.   A grill operating on a single cube of wood, made by a French-Canadian company, is one charcoal and propane-free option.  By incorporating the methodology of solar cookers, the Helios Grill uses the power of the sun to heat the grilling platform.

2) Look for ecofriendly charcoal, if you’re not using a gas grill.  Lump charcoal harvested from sustainably managed forests and briquettes made without coal dust and unhealthy additives are the way to go.  The Lump Charcoal Database review from Naked Whiz is one place to start looking for ecofriendly charcoal.

3) Use reusable or compostable dinnerware and cutlery.  Instead of purchasing conventional paper plates and plastic tableware, opt for inexpensive and casual reusable serving items.  If you’re goal is to avoid dishes, use paper plates and add them to your backyard compost pile.  Or, if your city offers curbside composting or has a composting facility, look for compostable options.  Plates made from sugarcane and heat tolerable cutlery made from renewable resources are supplied through EcoGreenOffice.  Avoid combining compostable items with the regular trash, as when sent to the landfill even compostable options are unlikely to decompose anytime soon.

4) Grill up some vegetarian recipes.  From tempeh burgers, to grilled pizza, a meatless barbecue can still be delicious.  Even opting for a vege-based meal once a week comes with environmental benefits.  Feeding grains directly to humans rather animals is more efficient and going vegetarian means you can compost more scraps.  Expand you palette and search online for creative vegetarian grilling recipes.  

5) Opt for all natural grill cleaners.  A grill brush and baking soda is a simple solution, or shop for all-natural grill cleaners online or at a local store.  

From the kind of kind of charcoal you use, to what you cook over the flames, turn over unique ideas for grilling green this summer.

Sources

http://earth911.com/news/2012/05/25/how-to-plan-a-waste-free-bbq/

http://ecoble.com/2009/06/30/10-eco-friendly-bbq-grills-to-green-your-summer/

http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/food-drink/barbecue/tips/buy-eco-friendly-charcoal