Boxed Water

Looking at one of my favorite website - the Dieline - I came across the 40 Favorite Beverage Package Designs. If you view the post you will see that bottle design is clearly a work of art.

A little more than half way down the post I saw a package design that caught my attention - Boxed Water. The design is simple, but on purpose. It's basically water in a milk carton. It's nostalgic, yet modern, sustainable and environmental.

In fact, Boxed Water is better for the environment with 85% of the box being made from trees (a renewable resource). As an added bonus, the company plans to donate part of the proceed to water relief foundations and reforestation foundations.

Being a young company, currently they are only in Western Michigan but are always looking to add more distributors. Very cool concept, very cool company. Made such an imPRessions I wanted to help generate some awareness. I hope to see this in my grocery store some day soon.

Cup O'Joe is a Cup O'Clever

Yesterday I had a meeting at Cup O'Joe.  I ordered a medium sized regular coffee with cream - my usual.  Even though I was going to enjoy my coffee there, I asked for my coffee in a to go cup.  

It wasn't until I was almost finished with my coffee that I noticed the cup sleeve.  It was very colorful, had texture and prominently displayed the Cup O' Joe logo.  But on the back it had an incentive. If you saved the sleeve and reused it ten times you would redeem one fully punched sleeve and a free cup of Cup O'Joe coffee.  Very smart! 

This sleeve serves a few purposes.  The obvious being protection on your hand from the hot coffee in the cup. The second being clever marketing.  This is such a simple and smart way to get customers to come back (and to possibly even talk about it on their blog). The last being an environmentally friendly idea.  By reusing the sleeve Cup O'Joe is helping keep the earth a little greener.

Very clever indeed.  Kuddos to Cup O'Joe! 

Happy Earth Day!

Yes, every day should be Earth Day but today is that one special day of the year to recognize and act.  Think of it as a New Year's Resolution for the earth.  

On behalf of mother earth's new year I thought I'd compile a few easy resolutions to make a part of your daily habits.  

If any of these become routine we will be one step closer to making our planet a little greener and it might even save you a little money.

1. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
2. When you go to bed turn your thermostat down a few degrees
3. Buy some reusable grocery bags and use instead of paper or plastic
4. Recycle the newspaper, junk mail or magazines either with your garbage company or look for a recycling dumpster in your neighborhood
5. Repurpose household items.  For some ideas click here to read an article I wrote for Gomestic.org awhile back.  If you like the article I'd appreciate it if you click I like it!

Earth Hour Saturday - More Cities Need to Represent!

Watching the Weather Channel I saw a promotion for Earth Hour.  World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour this Saturday to show support for Earth Hour.  Make your statement of concern for climate change and support going green by turning off your lights for one hour this Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. your local time. (similar to New Year's Eve)

Currently about 200 US cities are participating.  Unfortunately Columbus and Cleveland have yet to sign up.  The only major cities in Ohio signed up are Cincinnati and Toldeo.  You can sign up your city here.  Over 2,500 cities in 84 countries are signed up to participate.

For more information on Earth Hour click here.

Follow Earth Hour on Twitter here.

Going Green (Actually Clear) This St. Patty's Day

St. Patty's day is all about the green - wearing green (if not you'll get pinched), green shamrocks, green parades and green beer.

But now in these eco-conscious times, St. Patrick's Day is a great time to think about green in another way -  going green for the environment.

This St. Patrick's Day I wanted to create awareness for something green that's actually clear. Hmmmm.

Let me start with this fact.  Did you know that an estimated 1.1 BILLION people worldwide have NO access to clean drinking water.  Since all living creatures need water to survive that is a scary statistic.

But thanks to PUR and P&G there is hope.  PUR has developed PUR packet.  A PUR packet is a packet of powder that makes potentially deadly water drinkable.  Click here to see how this great product works.

1 packet = 10 cents 1 packet = 10 liters of clean water

Through the Children's Safe Drinking Water Program you can help for as little as $1.00!!

$1.00 gives a child clean water for 50 days $30.00 give a family clean water for a year

Join me this St. Patty's Day in going clear.  It only took a $7.50 donation (through the Greater Cincinnati Foundation) to give a child clean water for an entire year!!  Such a small donation that is making such a huge impact.  You can make a donation here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Baby The Planet Expo Info

Today I am going to distribute the first Baby The Planet Expo press release and wanted to give all my social media friends the first glance.

March 2, 2009

Contact: Michele Savoldi, columbus imPRessions

                 740.816.3251 or michele@columbusimpressions.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Baby the Planet Expo, first Mom and Mom-to-be Targeted Green Show in Central Ohio,

 Chosen as a Featured Event in Columbus Parent Magazine EXPO

 

(Columbus, OH) -   Baby the Planet Expo, a premier family green event, announced today that it will be a feature of the Columbus Parent Magazine EXPO, a quality family experience attracting 30,000 attendees on May 2-3, 2009 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

 

"Columbus Parent Magazine EXPO is thrilled to have Baby the Planet as part of our event this year. With so many families trying to become more eco-friendly, having green products and services at the EXPO is a benefit to all the kids and parents who attend the show,” states Staci Perkins, Editor of Columbus Parent Magazine.

 

As the first mom and mom-to-be targeted green event in the area, Baby the Planet Expo will bring local and national products, services and education to families looking to take those first steps in living a greener lifestyle or add to what they are already doing to improve the environment. 

 

“It can be overwhelming for parents and parents-to-be to learn and find resources to help them live a more sustainable lifestyle.  After hearing from so many women that they wish they could discover more about green living in one place, the idea of the expo was formed,” states event spokeswoman Michele Savoldi. The expo is focused on providing attendees with one new thing that will assist them with living a more sustainable lifestyle.  Interactive educational sessions will be offered on both days of the event.

 

A portion of the event’s proceeds will go to The Leave No Child Inside Central Ohio Collaborative, a non-profit dedicated to connecting kids with the outdoors as a way to improve their health, academic performance and happiness.

 

Current expo partners include sponsors The CW on WWHO-TV, American Canvas, Addison’s Compass, Itsabelly and Rain Brothers joined by the following exhibitors:

 

Camp Fire USA Central Ohio Council

Center for Humane Options in Childbirth Experiences  

Down the Garden Path 

Good to Go Eco 

Intuitive Concepts, Inc. 

The Leave No Child INSIDE Central Ohio Collaborative   

Long Mountain Designs 

Miessence Organics

Whole Foods 

 

Baby the Planet Expo has a limited number of sponsorships and exhibitor spaces still available for those companies and associations who want to connect their important message with families.  Event information is located on the event Web site at www.babytheplanetexpo.com. 

Ways to Have a Charitable Valentine's Day

Give a gift that is truly from the heart.  Charities all over are feeling the economic pinch so why not help ease their burden this Valentine's Day. Here are some ways you can share a little piece of your heart with those who will truly love you for it:

1. The holiday of love sparks thousands of wedding proposals.  Getting married?   Why not register through the I Do Foundation.
2. Not engaged?  You can still get engaged in your community.  Columbus' City budget has been slashed.  That means, rec centers and senior centers are closing.  Why not look into ways to help the children and elderly who will be loosing the places they've come to enjoy.
3. Will you be my Volunteer?  Sign up to volunteer for a non-profit organization.  You can find volunteer needs at Volunteer Match or The Epilepsy Foundation of Central Ohio needs volunteers for their Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras event.  Details here.
4. Spring Cleaning is just around the corner.  Why not start a little early and donate old clothes to The Salvation Army or Goodwill.
5. Need to buy flowers or a Valentine's gift for your loved one?  Why not shop on-line through Good Shop where the charity of your choice will receive a percentage donation from the sale.
6. Even though the environment is green, show is a little red and love the environment. Start recycling, pick up trash on the street, conserve water and electricity.
7. Give Blood.  There are plenty of blood drives in Columbus Valentine's week.  Find out where here. 
8. We all love our four legged friends.  The Paws to Party event might be sold out, but you can still adopt an animal at the Winter Adopt-A-Thon at the PetSmart Stores on Polaris Parkway and Sawmill Road.

These are just a few ideas to show support and love for non-profits in our community.  Any other ideas?  Send us a comment, we'd love to hear them.

Great News From Baby The Planet Expo

A few weeks back we were contacted through Twitter by one of our followers, Baby The Planet Expo.  They needed assistance with media awareness for their upcoming Expo in May and were taking RFP's from various PR groups.  They asked if we would consider submitting an RFP for the job and we jumped at the chance! 

This evening we heard from Baby The Planet Expo.  We are excited to announce that columbus imPRessions was chosen as the PR agency for the job!  We are thrilled to be a part of this incredible event and are anxious to start working on the project.

Be on the lookout for info and posts on Baby The Planet Expo.  Click here for details on the event, for exhibitor and sponsorship info.  There is still time to get involved.

MonaVie- thoughts?

Do any of our readers out there have an opinion on the popular and intriguing juice product, MonaVie? We just don't know what to think with some claiming it's a scam and others raving about the benefits of acai.  

What I have noticed, is that the simple bottle design, availability through individual distributors, and expensive price seem to be working well for the product.  When my husband's "dealer" (: moved away, I was thrilled to find out over thanksgiving that a relative was selling it.   I do like the taste although I just don't know how much I believe the hype.  

Here is why it works for me personally:  I start with a shot in the morning and experience that satisfaction of starting the day off right.  I take a little bit of a longer walk in the morning and try to make healthy choices the rest of the day.  So, essentially, that expensive drink of MonaVie somehow keeps me conscious of my choices, and in the end, I truly do feel better.   But is it the drink or the rest of the choices?  

Any thoughts, opinions, experiences?...

Ebay Spreads Good To the World

Ebay created a brand new site that promotes social responsibility, being Eco-friendly and helping a cause.  WorldofGood.com offers a new and easy way to show the positive impact your purchase has on people and the planet.  You can shop in ways that align your values.  Unlike the original Ebay site, this is NOT an auction. These items are available for purchase right on the spot - no bidding wars with this one!  Items range from food, clothing, art and housewares.  

Very cool idea, very unique items.  I see lots of shopping in the future on this site!  It's nice to know I can shop and make a positive difference in the world!

Boo - Just a Little Earlier

This year marketers are banking on Halloween earlier than ever.  Halloween decorations, candy and home decor can already be found in stores and on-line.  Why so early, because Halloween is a very lucrative time of year.  Last year alone, Halloween generated $5.07 billion (yes, B as in Billion).  It is estimated that Halloween candy sales will jump another 2.8% from last year.  We don't see any tricks there, just plenty of treats!

Want to help out a non-profit this Halloween?  Purchase a "green" Halloween treat bag from Ballard Designs and they will give a portion of the proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  The tote costs $12.00.  It's worth it when you know some of the money is going to help children and the jute bag is another way to go green and help the environment.

Plastic Clothing?

This month, Coke launched a new t-shirt line made from recycled plastic coke bottles calling it their "Drink to Wear" apparel. T-shirts that read, "Make your plastic fantastic" and "Rehash your trash" are available at nearly 400 Wal-Mart stores as well as at www.Walmart.com. The shirts are retailing for about $7.50. Along with the t-shirts, Coke also created tote bags, caps, purses and notebooks made from plastic bottles. If these products are big sellers they will reuse and divert more than 700 million bottles from landfills.

Way to go Coca-Cola! What a great way to keep the plant green while extending your brand making it hip and thoughtful.

Going Green in Columbus

The official Earth Day 2008 is on April 22nd but Columbus will recognize it on Saturday, April 26th.  This local campaign is unique because it is not about raising funds, it's about the central Ohio community volunteering their time to unite and clean up the earth and make the city of Columbus even more beautiful.  

I also wanted to take a moment to thank Mother Nature for helping to raise awareness about Earth Day.  It's obvious that she is providing some amazing sunny spring days to remind humans what they are destroying.  After the walk I just took, I think I just made up my mind to do my part.  I will be signing up to volunteer on Saturday, and I am done with plastic grocery bags.

I am sure there is a lot more that I can sacrifice, and I will continue to post on the subject.  Feel free to comment and share any ideas!

Brands that go green

Are you more inclined to buy from a brand that has gone green? Does going green make a difference to you?

Here are a few brands who market going green:

Frito-Lay - with their commitment to water, waste reduction and energy - http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/ProdSubEV_Cat_572359_NavRoot_633003.htm

Dr. Scholls - with their vegan hemp sandals - http://greatgreenshoes.com/2008/02/24/dr-scholls-renew-getting-on-the-eco-friendly-bandwagon/

Smashbox Makeup - with their Green Room collection - http://www.kissandmakeup.tv/2008/01/spring-2008-8-s.html

Is going green a fad that will fade to barely chartreuse? What do you think?

I think consumers want to take control of their health and wellness and the green market's gravitation toward natural, organic and eco-friendly products will continue for quite some time.

Go Green on St. Patty's Day

With St. Patty's Day fast approaching consider going green. You don't have to be Irish, you don't have to eat green food or drink green beer (although that sounds like fun), you don't even have to wear green. Why not do something good for the environment and GO GREEN.

Tie your business with this great cause. Do something as a team like pick up trash in your office's neighborhood, host a recycling event for your office and invite neighborhood businesses, and make a corporate donation to an environmental group.

Send out a press release to local papers and TV promoting how your organization is making a difference this festive holiday. This will get media attention because it is timely - both due to being a St. Patrick's Day story and because going green is the cause that is extremely current.

This is a win-win all the way around - for your business, for the earth, and for your mind-set.