A compilation of eco friendly products

Eco-friendly products are those that are environmentally friendly and have a lower negative impact on the environment throughout their life cycle. When I saw that the theme for October was Eco-friendly products, I was reminded of the reports I made in the past highlighting the green products that I had the opportunity to learn about and use. This sustainable trip down memory lane gave me the idea to make this report a compilation of these products with a brief summary and the link to the previous report provided.

1.   

Eco Pencils

This report highlights two eco-friendly companies, Treewise Pencils in the UAE and Green-O-Tech India, contributing to environmental conservation by producing products from recycled paper. Treewise Pencils, founded by Mr. Ghulamhussien Jhanjaria, creates pencils from 100% recycled newspapers, promoting the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. The pencils are non-toxic, made without harmful chemicals, and each one is crafted from a different newspaper. The company also engages in a School Engagement Program to instill eco-friendly ideas in youth.

Green-O-Tech India, conceptualized by Mr. Prashant Rana, focuses on waste recycling, particularly waste paper. Their unique service model involves collecting waste paper from corporates, recycling it into stationery products, and offering them free to clients, along with a promise to plant a tree for every 100 kg of recycled paper. The company's Seed Pencil, a plantable pencil with hybrid seeds, caught attention. Green-O-Tech's recycled paper pencils are wood and polymer-free, contributing to reducing deforestation.

It also shares a personal experience of promoting these eco-friendly pencils in a marketing campaign at my father's office, emphasizing the positive impact that such initiatives can have on reducing deforestation and promoting a sustainable planet.

Link: 

https://tunza.eco-generation.org/ambassadorReportView.jsp?viewID=44668

2.   

Gabarage- An Upcycling Design Initiative

Gabarage Upcycling Design, an Austrian initiative, transforms residual materials into stylish fashion and furniture, embodying a unique socio-economic eco concept. I discovered Gabarage by chance during a stroll in St Polten, the capital of Lower Austria where I found out that the company reuses leftover and waste materials to create innovative products. With two stores in St. Polten and Vienna, Gabarage is funded by the European Social Fund, AMS (Public Employment Service) Vienna, and SDW (Organization for Rehabilitation of Substance Abuse victims). The initiative further promotes environmental and social sustainability by offering jobs to disadvantaged individuals.

Led by Ms. Gabriele Gottwald-Nathaniel, Gabarage's strategic director, the team upcycles waste materials into everyday objects and limited-edition items. The product range includes jewelry, accessories, furniture, bags, lamps, and more, showcasing excellent craftsmanship. Gabarage's ecological approach, emphasizing "up-cycling" over traditional recycling, extends product life cycles and reduces waste. As a CSR partner for corporates, Gabarage collects leftovers and transforms them into sustainable items, conveying a message of social responsibility and sustainability. The initiative illustrates the significance of upcycling for environmental and social well-being, encouraging a shift from traditional recycling methods.

Link: 

https://tunza.eco-generation.org/ambassadorReportView.jsp?viewID=45969

3.      

Cloth Bags- A personal Eco Project

This report highlights a project I initiated aimed at eco-conservation. Working with my father, who is associated with a textile mill producing furnishing textiles, I realized that there was an abundance of leftover fabric in various forms, from rejected pieces with minor quality issues to smaller cuts and samples. Recognizing the underutilization of these materials, I decided to transform them into small purses and bags, ranging from coin pouches to shopping bags.

I funded whatever extra materials I needed for the project (e.g., zippers) with my pocket money and collaborated with a tailor to craft these fabric items during our free time. The fabric bags serve as eco-friendly alternatives to gift wrapping, offering a sustainable and reusable solution. I also aimed to extend the impact by sharing these bags with friends and classmates, encouraging the culture of reusable gift bags. The initiative gained further traction as my father started to incorporate these fabric purses into promotional giveaways for his work, showcasing the dual benefits of repurposing leftover fabric and creating reusable, long-lasting gifts.

Link: 

https://tunza.eco-generation.org/ambassadorReportView.jsp?viewID=46406

4.      

Clothes from PET Bottles

To highlight the strides toward a circular economy, this report focuses on Dubai-based company 'DGrade,' which pioneered the transformation of PET bottles into clothing through their innovative 'Greenspun Technology.' The process involves washing and cleaning plastic bottles, shredding them into chips, melting these chips into fiber, and spinning the trademarked Greenspun yarn. This yarn is woven into fabric used for a diverse range of products, including apparel, accessories, luggage items, and home furnishings.

DGrade's recycling initiative, 'Simply Bottles,' collaborates with local entities, events, schools, and government organizations to collect plastic bottles as raw material. The company goes beyond production, actively promoting environmental awareness through workshops, seminars, and desert clean-up drives. Notably, DGrade's sustainable practices have garnered recognition both within the UAE and internationally, earning numerous awards.

Greenspun yarn is 50% more energy-efficient, uses 20% less water, and generates 55% lower carbon emissions compared to traditional polyester yarn production. Additionally, the process eliminates the use of oil. As an official Expo 2020 partner, DGrade's T-Shirts, made from recycled plastic bottles, were sold at the Expo sustainability pavilion.

Link: 

https://tunza.eco-generation.org/ambassadorReportView.jsp?viewID=57456

This compilation of eco-friendly initiatives presents a diverse spectrum of sustainable practices that contribute to environmental conservation. From the inventive eco pencils by Treewise Pencils to Gabarage Upcycling Design's transformation of residual materials into stylish products, each case exemplifies the power of upcycling and social responsibility. These initiatives collectively inspire a shift towards a more sustainable and responsible approach to consumption, emphasizing the importance of embracing eco-friendly practices in our daily lives.