Posted by Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager on August 30, 2009
My family and I went to the Iowa State Fair last weekend, and I’ll admit that state fairs are not the first place you expect to see a high level of environmental consciousness. One of our first stops at the fair was the 4-H exhibit building (my old stomping grounds!) to check out some of the best projects from members across the state.
There were many items that I expected to see - refinished furniture, colorful photographs, and baked goodies. But one thing that had changed in the past 15 years was the number of projects talking about environmental issues- how wonderful! Not only are 4-H members wearing the traditional 4-H colors of green and white…. but many are also thinking green! There’s little doubt in my mind that kids today are more aware of environmental issues like climate change, recycling, and finite resources. Here’s a short clip of just a few of the exhibits we saw…
There definitely was a common theme across many of the exhibits that going green, saves green. From making your own household cleaners to installing low-flow showerheads, these kids are thinking about their future and their pocketbooks. Smart!
4-Hers say "Go Green and Save Green"
I enjoyed seeing the Aveda cap recycling program highlighted by one of the 4-H members as that’s one of the programs that our office GREEN Team implemented last year! One of the GREEN Team members, Karen Skewes, led these efforts by promoting the cap recycling through signs/e-mails and adding a collection box for caps on her desk. Employees save caps from milk jugs, peanut butter jars, yogurt lids, and more to drop off at Karen’s desk…and then she drops them off at Aveda salons once the box gets full. Pretty simple… but it adds up! I wonder how many caps Aveda recycled in total last year?!?
Aveda Cap Recycling Program
There were also some interesting exhibits highlighting the use of renewable materials like corn and soy in many products we use daily. See for yourself!
Maybe next year there will be a soy exhibit on products made with soy-based BiOH® polyols! I hope so! I know these were just a few exhibits at one state fair so I’m wondering…do you think kids are more aware of environmental issues today than they were a generation ago? Why or why not?
Posted by Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager on August 24, 2009
You are invited to experience soy style firsthand at a retail exhibition the weekend of October 10-11 at Room & Board’s store in Edina, MN. Journey ”from soybean to sofa” to see how soybeans can reduce consumption of petroleum and leave a smaller environmental footprint when used in furniture cushions.
Exhibits are being created by Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) students…. meaning the creativity and design results will be much higher than the BiOH team alone could have conjured! Students were challenged to design a furnishings retail event around soy-based cushion foam that would educate, entertain, endear, encourage interaction and engage all five senses.
While most of the exhibits will be displayed in the store both Saturday & Sunday…. the REAL fun will be during a community event from 1 to 3pm on Saturday October 10! There will be a ceremonial Soybean Watering and Student Awards kickoff at 1 p.m. During the Saturday afternoon event, there will be both design and children’s activities including an interactive play space called “Kids KnOH Zone,” located in the youth furniture department, to engage children, ages 5 -10, with activities from learning about growing soybean plants, to having fun with foam blocks and sharing their ideas on how to help the environment. Older children will have an opportunity to act as “journalists,” capturing Flip camera videos of attendees.
Exhibits throughout the store will display soybean plants, sculptures made of furniture foam, videos, banners, and sustainability-themed exhibits describing how small, sustainable choices can add up to a large environmental impact. (Plus there will be food!!)
We will purchase carbon offsets for the event . Additionally,the BiOH Polyols business will match two percent of the Room & Board store’s retail sales from the Oct.10-11 weekend to donate to TreeTrust – a Minnesota non-profit dedicated to transforming the green landscape. Stay tuned on our blog for event updates, or visit our Facebook event page for more details!
Posted by Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager on August 18, 2009
While I spend a lot of time talking about ways to make products such as mattresses and furniture more eco-friendly, it is also important to consider what happens to your existing products when you purchase something new. I thought it would be interesting to share some information on mattress recycling for consideration when you make your next mattress purchase.
Let’s start with what’s happening in the industry. The International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) has a sustainability initiative that has outlined some basic information around more sustainable materials for mattresses and has compiled a list of mattress recycling centers across the U.S. and Canada. While the list is relatively short today, it continues to grow. Please note that many of these locations may not take mattresses directly from individual households, so call them directly to confirm where/how to drop off an old mattress.
A mattress recycling company in Minnesota, PPL, was recently featured in an article in the Star Tribune. They help break down mattresses so that components such as steel spring coils and polyurethane foam can be recycled. Research is being conducted to find new uses for other mattress components as well. The article cites that PPL works with both county and city recycling centers as well as receives used mattresses from retailer Room & Board. It’s great to know that these programs are happening in my backyard!
If there are no mattress recycling companies near you, there are also other options for your used mattresses. Many retailers offer services and programs to take your used mattresses after a new purchase.HOM Furniture in the midwest will take your old mattress when they deliver your new mattress; they then provide the mattresses to a non-profit - Bridging. Bridging provides household goods and furniture to families in need… giving a new family some much needed rest! You can find a list of other furniture banks near you if you would like to make a donation of any used products directly.
It’s all about the “Rs” – reduce, reuse, recycle…and my favorite, renewable! What resources have you found for recycling or donating household goods? I’d love to learn more!
Posted by Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager on August 4, 2009
It’s been over a week since we wrapped up our Soy Style: Did you KnOH? campaign where we spent two weeks sharing some of the great stories from several manufacturers using foams with soy-based BiOH polyols. I hope you enjoyed an inside look at the latest styles and design while learning about sustainable features available in select furniture and mattress products. I loved reading the comments posted… from the male desire for “function over fashion” to “I’m so glad we’ve finally bid farewell to the belief that it has to be uncomfortable to be good for the environment.” Every insight was appreciated!
After constant connection to the online world during the contest, it was time to disconnect for a few days of vacation! I headed back to visit my family in Iowa… which was a pleasant reminder of where the Soy Style story all begins. See for yourself!
Maybe now you’ll consider planning your next vacation to Guthrie Center, Iowa – or your favorite midwest small town- to check out the beginning of Soy Style firsthand!
The BiOH experience offers resources for you to learn and participate in helping communities and the environment. It is brought to you by the BiOH polyols business — a maker of soy-based ingredients for foam. Please explore our site and then share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you!
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