Here is a quick introduction (or review) of some eco-terms important to Stuff and our mission. It's important to know some of the basics in the movement to "go green"! Look for more "Eco Buzz" posts coming soon!

1. “Close the Loop” or “Zero Waste” To produce and/or buy a product which has been remanufactured, reprocessed, or reused on more than one occasion in an attempt to totally eliminate waste. Making art from aluminum cans is a perfect example of “closing the loop”!
2.  “Downcycling” A term used for the process of recycling; which is seen as "downcycling" materials into lesser products, a plastic computer housing becomes a plastic cup, which then becomes a park bench, eventually becoming waste. Even if a product is made of recycled material, it will still eventually become waste (its life is just longer!). 
3. “Environmental design”
Designing physical environments that are socially and ecologically sustainable. It takes a variety of factors into account, including the urban and natural landscape, noise and acoustics, aesthetics, air quality and natural light, ergonomics and accessibility, historic preservation and vernacular design in an attempt to create environmentally and eco-friendly homes, offices, and other manufactured environments.  
4.  “Greenwashing” Manufacturers, corporations, and/or government agencies who make false claims that their products are eco-friendly, sustainable or organic. Be wary of products claiming to be something they’re not – use your best judgment!
5. “Sustainable living” A lifestyle that seeks to reduce individual and societal use of natural resources by changing the way everyday products are purchased, used, and disposed of. Donating materials to Stuff would certainly apply!
6. “Upcycling” Waste materials are used to create new products, reducing the amount of waste in landfills and giving the items greater value. For example, making jewelry from found objects or art from trash are forms of upcycling.  
7. “Waste hierarchy: Reduce - Reuse -  Recycle" The aim of this hierarchy is to extract the maximum benefit from products while generating the minimum amount of waste. Most importantly, we should reduce the amount of waste we are generating in the first place, then we should focus on reusing what we have or what others have, and finally we should recycle.Generated by Emma

As die-hard fans of ABC’s Lost learned in the first season, building a boat from recycled materials may not be as difficult as one might imagine. All it requires is a little ingenuity and what some may see as ‘trash.’ In San Francisco TV fiction is becoming reality, as a navigable boat is being built out of recycled materials. David de Rothschild, an adventurer that has traveled both polar ice caps, has taken it upon himself to create a vessel made almost entirely out of plastic bottles. Once the boat (named Plastiki) is completed, it will travel more than 11,000 miles from California to Australia through the open seas. The voyage is estimated to take over 100 days, with 4 sailors, scientists, and de Rothschild taking permanent residency on the boat with several other crew members rotating throughout the journey.

So what are the mechanics of this fantastic vessel? How is it being formed? (Kevin Costner’s Waterworld comes to mind). The boat Plastiki will be made from 90% recycled materials, the majority being 12,000 to 16,000 plastic bottles that make up the twin hulls. The label is removed from each two-liter plastic bottle, which is then washed, filled with a dry-ice powder, and resealed. The dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas after it is heated, creating pressure in the bottle and keeping it rigid. After the hulls are completed, they will be wrapped in another recycled plastic - PET or polyethylene tephthalate (the same material the bottles are made out of). The PET panels will envelope the hull and the four-person cabin into a watertight space. The other 10% will be new materials for parts of the boat like the masts, which are metal. The power source will be drawn from solar panels and two wind turbines that will charge a mass of 12-volt batteries.  

De Rothschild wants to draw attention to the possibility of transforming consumer waste into a resource, ultimately focusing on the profitability of ‘cradle-to-cradle’ products instead of dead end products that only add to landfills. To further illustrate this concept, Plastiki will be disassembled after its trip and recycled, where it may turn into more bottles, plastic bags, or containers. 

Plastiki, a boat made of discarded plastic bottles, is certainly entering ‘unknown territory’ and the journey has the potential to be very dangerous, but the media attention it attracts will bring much needed awareness to consumer waste and recycling. We look to them for inspiration and wish them luck!

Elisabeth

Hasn’t this warm weather been wonderful?! I adore springtime in Virginia and, of course, there are so many places in Richmond to spend beautiful days outside, from Maymont Park and Belle Isle to walking around Carytown or Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Having some outdoor fun with family or friends not only allows us to appreciate our natural environment but also get some exercise too! I recently came across a non-profit called Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (www.railstotrails.org) which is a perfect weekend activity or perhaps an opportunity for a future summer adventure!

Rails-to-Trails’ goal is to create a nationwide network of trails from abandoned railroad lines and connecting corridors; in a sense, recycling deserted land for a new purpose: outdoor recreation and physical fitness! Since its founding in 1986, Rails-to-Trails has assisted with the building of nearly 13,935 miles of rail-trails, giving Americans the tools they need to build these multiuse trails in their own urban, rural, and suburban communities. The trails are usually low-incline and can be used for walking, running, cycling, mountain biking, inline skating, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and even wheelchair accessible! There are even trails being built in other countries – rails-to-trails is a large-scale recycling and reuse project gaining steam around the country and the world!

There a lot of ways to get involved with Rails-to-Trails on their website, including taking a pledge to “Burn Calories, Not Carbon” by walking and biking more than driving, learning how to get a project started in your community and also donating to the cause. However, I think the most exciting aspect of Rails-to-Trails is the accessibility of the project to us here in Metro Richmond. There are four trails within 50 miles of Richmond, including one in Chesterfield County in Chester. While it is a short one mile trail of crushed stone, reviews say it is a beautiful walk and worth checking out. Another nearby trail with a fascinating historical context is located in Prince Edward County, in Farmville. Opening in August of 2008, the four mile trail boasts High Bridge, built in 1853, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 160 feet above the Appomattox River.

Check out TrailLink (www.traillink.com) to search for other beautiful trails in Virginia (there are thirty!!) and around the country. Take advantage of the beautiful weather, spend some time with your loved ones, and experience a unique form of recycling and reuse at the same time.

- Emma

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/entertainment/mashup.html

STUFF was interviewed by the folks at MashUp (inrich.com).  Check it out!