Economic downturn have you thinking about taking your lunch to work or school?

If you’ve thought about it and you’re considering carry a lunch bag or box, you’ll be happy to know there are lots of interesting and trendy ways to do it and still be considerate to the environment.

Below are a few examples of reusable lunch bags and stainless steel lunch boxes we’ve run across lately. And there is nothing that says you can’t pull out your old “Star Wars” lunchbox from your youth and carry it to work with you. Be bold.

Happy holidays!

Thinking of an after Christmas present for the kids?

If you missed something on your list and you want to add a fun and sustainable gift, try out some great SIGG brand reusable drink bottles. Designed in sizes especially for little hands and with great, child-friendly graphics, these drink bottles can handle hot or cold drinks.

See the Hello Kitty branded bottle below at Park + Vine on Vine Street in Cincinnati.

Well, if you didn’t think companies going green would make a difference during a recession, think again.

Clorox company saw their net income rise 15% last quarter, according to GreenBiz.com. They attribute that rise to three product lines that are considered green or sustainable - Clorox GreenWorks cleaning products, Burts Bees line of natural personal care products and Brita, maker of water filters.

Read More

http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/11/10/green-products-clorox

It was recently reported here and here that P&G’s offices are creating 21% less waste than a year ago.  In the last year alone, water and energy use were reduced by 6-8%.

P&G has been working hard around the office and has decreased waste in their facilities by 50% over the last 6 years.  That’s a really impressive footprint reduction.

P&G has released improved products recently with environmental benefits like Tide Coldwater.  Read more about the P&G sustainability initiatives here.  We all look forward to increased sustainable considerations from the consumer products giant - to help decrease waste creation and water usage in our own homes.

Sometimes a passion and a great idea can turn into a good green business. The locally based company, GreenBird, has created a totally green paper birdhouse.

The GreenBird recycled paper birdhouses are designed to last one nesting season and then may be added to a compost bin for use in next years garden. They were designed to aid in education in recycling, bird study, bird habitat loss, local and global ecosystems, climate change, citizenship and art projects.

Their recycled paper birdhouses were recently selected by the San Diego California’s Project Wildlife 2008 volunteer gifts.

GreenBird houses are available in Cincinnati at Mica in O’Bryonville and Outside or Park+Vine in Over the Rhine.  During the season, they are available at Greenfield Plant Farm in Anderson Township and Greenfield Plant Farm in Maineville, Ohio.

You can find out more by visiting www.GreenBirdHouse.com.

Are you a local company with a green business specialty?  Share it with us!

Bike lover’s stocking stuffer sticker?  Try saying that three times fast!

There are a lot of benefits to bike riding, shown in these stickers.  Free gas and well…other gas!

Plaster your ride or share the bike love with someone you know.  These stickers are available at Park+Vine.

While utilizing re-usable tableware is the best way to avoid waste at the dinner table, there may be times when you’ll need to fall back on something else.  If you have to go with disposable tableware, choose something made of natural or recycled content.

StalkMarket offers a line of disposable tableware that is made of renewable plant materials instead of Styrofoam or virgin paper.  Since they are made from agricultural bi-products like stalks and stems, they don’t take any crops away from the food growing.

Plates like these are biodegradable and will break down completely under the right conditions so you can add them to the compost and keep them out of the landfill.

These plates are available at Park+Vine.

Did you know that there is a light source available that is even more efficient than a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL)?  Watt Works, located just outside of Columbus, has an entire show room full of LED based lights.

• Watt Works offers residential, commercial and industrial consulting, sales, and installation of LED-based lighting options, as well as a wealth of other energy efficient lighting and heating ideas like a model solar hot water heating unit, LED lanterns/flashlights, and portable solar panels to charge your mobile phone or accessories.

• Need an idea for highly energy-efficient lighting systems for a project you’re working on?  They can even help you attain that elusive LEED green building certification on your project.

• For examples of products, services, events, and more; visit the Watt Works website.

Are you a local company with a green business specialty?  Share it with us!

Did you know that there was a Certified USDA Organic facility in the Greater Cincinnati area?  In fact, Marvin’s Organic Gardens has been Certified USDA Organic since 2003.  The certification guarantees the entire property follows strict, organic growing methods and never uses synthetics or chemicals.

Marvin’s Organic Gardens offers a vast selection of plants and garden products, as well as an organic farmer’s market.

Beyond landscaping and gardening products, Marvin’s Organic Gardens hosts lots of regular programs to teach you about the benefits of being a locavore and how to have a green, green thumb.

You can find out more by visiting the Marvin’s Organic Gardens online calendar of events and website.

Are you a local company with a green business specialty?  Share it with us!

If you’ve started carrying reusable tote bags with you to the grocery store, you probably know the feeling of being weighed down with bags on your arms.  Make it easy on yourself, try out this tote bag cart!

This rolling bag carrier is available at Park+Vine and will make a smashing Holiday gift for anyone (including yourself)!