Sears & Kmart Join Wal-Mart, Target In PVC Reduction Programs

Sparked by a national campaign led by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), together with a coalition of health and environmental organizations, today Sears Holdings (Sears and Kmart) has announced its plans to begin phasing out products and packaging containing the toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, commonly known as vinyl. Sears and Kmart join Wal-Mart and Target, in reducing and phasing out PVC in products and packaging. Target's policy was just announced last month. Sears Holdings, the publicly traded parent of Kmart and Sears, Roebuck and Co., is the nation's sixth-largest retailer with over $50 billion in annual revenues and approximately 3,800 retail stores in the United States and Canada.

Sears Holdings has announced it is working to reduce and phase out PVC in its packaging and merchandise, including encouraging vendors to label their PVC-free merchandise. Additionally, Sears is working to identify safer, more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to PVC and incorporate them into the design and manufacturing process for private label merchandise and packaging.

ehhh

Sam Suds and the Case of PVC

POSSIBLE DESIGNS

PROJECT 3: PVC PIPING PLANTER/CHAIR

While PVC pipe is not an earth friendly material because the manufacturing process is harmful to the environment, reusing old pvc pipe is friendly. Anytime materials can be reused and turned into something cool and creative is an effective sustainable design strategy because it reminds people that things can and SHOULD be reused. By using the pipe to create a chair and planter, it has a 2 functions, also helping to point out trash can be re-used and re-purposed.

Creatve Caffeing + Prototyping

Bamboozled?!

BAMBOO FABRIC IS A SHAM! read here!

"FTC Charges Companies with 'Bamboo-zling' Consumers with False Product Claims
Bamboo-based Textiles, Actually Made of Rayon, Are Not Antimicrobial, Made in an Environmentally Friendly Manner, or Biodegradable"

BAMBOO GATHERING

This Project idea sounded a lot better BEFORE the blizzard.

indoor vertical gardens

DAILY PROBLEMS

GREEN WALLS

green wall at Blue House, by Mundo Verde Ortega
Mundo Verde Ortega is artist from Baltimore whos specialty is green walls. His mission is to bring nature into urban places and works vertically in tight limited spaces.
THE SUN article

ELT is another company that specializes in Living Walls. They have done a lot of work on exterior but they also sell a kit that ranges $200-250 for an at home kit that can be altered to fit any space
ELT SITE

Reclaiming Design

Veggie Bowls

Greenmuse.com
Artist Margaret Dorfman uses sun and air to create these pressed veggie bowls

Snail Shell

Iron-plated snail could inspire new armor Full Article
"snail has evolved a tri-layered shell structure consisting of an outer layer embedded with iron sulfide granules, a thick organic middle layer, and a calcified inner layer"

-nacre, or shell 95 percent calcium carbonate, a brittle ceramic, and 5 percent flexible biopolymer
=STRONG

actually, the MIT materials site has REALLY interesting articles on state of the art advances in all kinds of materials

I like where their head's are at...

Ika Tokkuri - Japanese ancient custom, sake bottles, and sustainable!





















Designer Eliza Strozyk has developed this rug made from offcuts of wood veneer bonded to a textile backing




Recycled Wood Furniture