Bamboo Homewares - are you in touch with your inner panda?

At Todae.com.au, we love our Homewares and our planet. We've had our eye on the Bamboo Bath Towels ever since we discovered what a eco-friendly resource we have in bamboo. 

Not only does it leave cotton in the dust with its silky feel and hypoallergenic qualities, bamboo thrives without chemical pesticides and is completely bio-degradable.

As if it that wasn't enough, this clever little evergreen manages to grow all year round at a super speedy rate. Plus it doesn't need much water, which is perfect for our Aussie climate.  No need for replanting - after the stalks are cut off, the plant continues growing and is ready again for harvest in three to four short years.

The pandas may be onto something. Sure, you may not want to eat 9 - 20 kilos of bamboo a day, but you can enjoy it in your towels and Furniture.  For more, handy creations, check out our range of HomewaresOnline.

And if all this bamboo talk has got you pondering pandas, learn more about them and see what conservation efforts World Wildlife Fund are making by clicking here.

Hope you're having a pand-tastic (ugh...sorry) day,

Grace

Eco- friendly Bedtime Stories

“When you read a book as a child it becomes part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.” Well, Meg said it there in You’ve Got Mail, every RomCom girl’s favourite New York love story, and I believe it. I remember parts of my childhood in association with characters I’d read in stories at the time. I remember holidays by the books Mum read to me, I learnt lessons and values from a football playing gorilla, a honey- eating bear and characters in a land entered through a wardrobe.

            But one thing I don’t remember learning, was the ethics behind caring for the environment. I think for me, that really came later. Why not make that lesson earlier?

In Todae’s online eco store there are some fantastic books you can read to your young ones in the sunshine in the backyard or even just before they pop into bed.

            Let’s Turn It Off is a beautifully written and illustrated resource which will encourage kids to read and to consider the importance of energy conservation and sustainable living from get go. Let’s Save Water is in a similar vain, with the aim of instilling respect and value for the environment. Both books are ideal for any children ages 3 and over- a prime time to teach them about caring for the beautiful world we live in.

            Our children can be so easily influenced by anything and everything around them, let’s get ahead of the game and teach them about things that matter.

Magazine Beading

In my lounge room is a basket full of old magazines and newspapers, in my parent’s house there exists a similar basket and in my grandparent’s house is the pile of newspapers without the basket.

            I recently stumbled across an ingenious way to use these old mags and papers, the Green Creativity Recycled Paper Beads Maker. What the kit contains is a tool to turn the mags and papers into unique beads that will keep kids engaged for hours.

            What a productive use of what would otherwise become waste. This tool is a fantastic way to educate you kids about the value of recycling, and will inspire them to stop watching the box for more creative endeavors. At $24.95 it’s a steal, and so good to know that it will be cost free in the materials that it requires to make the beads.

 The buzz you get from making something yourself is something that all kids should experience throughout their childhood- and it’s fun for parents too. If you’re anything like me, you will be keen to decrease the amount of papers in your basket- so make sure you pick one of these up from Todae’s online eco store and pass on the value of recycling and getting creative to your kids.

Colourful Bamboo Bowls

In the past few years I’ve been to over fifteen weddings- three quarters of which I attended the reception. Now, this might have something to do with being at an age where every man and his dog are marrying up, but one thing it’s caused me to do is get creative with wedding gifts.

            A common theme to wedding registries is homewares. Anything from pots, to plates, to salad bowls and tea towels, what is guaranteed is the full kitchen of Mr. and Mrs when they return from their honeymoon.

            But why not make it interesting? There are some amazing finds at Todae’s online eco store. My favourites include the vibrant Bambu Coconut Bowls and the Bambu Coiled Bamboo Mini Me Bowls. These colourful additions to one’s table layout is sure to bring smiles to the faces of guests.

            The Bambu Coconut Bowls are perfect for serving soups and salads, and the Bambu Coiled Bamboo Mini Me Bowl are just what you need for ice cream or hot soup. As well as being ideal for kids and toddlers (being shatterproof when things get a little hairy), it’s great to know that these gifts for your friends (or your own home) are naturally made from natural and renewable strips of bamboo and coconut shells. Both bowls are coated in a food-safe, waterproof natural lacquer, making them durable. So remember to brighten up your table with these naturally made colourful bowls.

Leo Wants Us To Think Green

If you’re anything like me, you don’t have to go out of your way to discover what the high-flyers are up to. Beyonce’s baby bump slips into dinner conversation with friends and who’s with whom in movie land is just part of the common knowledge one picks up without picking up a magazine. However sometimes the actions of these celebs cause us to think through bigger issues than what they’re wearing.

Besides being a Hollywood heart- throb of the 90’s variety, Leonardo Dicaprio is also well known for being one of tinsel town’s most vocal environmental activists.

            Most recently, he has been the purchaser of a hybrid supercar, the 2012 Fisker Karma. With a top speed of 125 miles per hour, it can do an eco-friendly 100 miles per gallon. It’s also a measly $100,000.

            But Leo says this push for environmental awareness is not about him, “It’s about getting the governments of the world to implement environmental policy”. In 2000 he challenged the incoming President George Bush to use his time to push environmental issues.

            Now a car of this caliber may be out of reach of us mere mortals, but we have our own battles to fight and choices to make. We might not be making six digits, but we have the ingenious to carpool, the care to recycle and the wit to laugh at the gross expense of this eco supercar, whilst applauding the intentions that lay behind it.

To seek out Environmentally Friendly Presents

I love buying presents. Finding that perfect gift for someone you care for, something you know they will use and appreciate, something perhaps they’ve mentioned they’ve wanted is such a satisfying endeavor.

However, I will readily admit to having bought friends and family useless gifts in the past, without much thought or concern for the products themselves and by consequence the people they are being given to. Whether it was on a whim, in a rush, the night before Christmas, or simple thoughtlessness, there it is.

       

I would love for things to be different. Wouldn’t it be great to not only buy loved ones gifts they can use, but that also refrain from leaving a dent in the environment?

        

I have found an eco store where they stock a range of quality products at reasonable prices. For Aunty Nat, we have beautiful Bamboo Bath Towels in colours Aquarmarine and Pearl; for cousin Toby, a set of Lyra Ferby Short Colour Pencils is just what he needs to add to his art supplies.

         

What I’ve discovered, when giving these kinds of gifts to people you care for, is that they appreciate it so much more because of the thought you have put into looking for a gift which not only suits them, their interests and needs, but that is also conscious of being eco-friendly in nature. Think about the next gift you give, and the impact it will make on the recipient and our world.

The benefits to environmentally friendly carpooling

Whether it’s the school pick up/ drop off, or the commute to work or university, carpooling has always been a cost effective and eco friendly way of transport. But the logistics in coordinating children at a variety of locations, or University timetables and work schedules can often put off the idea of carpooling for many drivers.

There are definitely incentives that have been offered to those who make the effort. In recent years Wollongong University has started to offer free parking to cars with three or more passengers. And this is indeed the case for many businesses.

There are internal and external factors, which make carpooling strategies successful for business employees and employers alike. 

The internal factors within a company may include the reimbursement of parking charges for carpoolers, support from senior management (where it is a company strategy in question), priority parking for carpoolers, effective promotion of the scheme and efficient management of the scheme in question, by a coordinator.

The external factors are the consequences of what is likely to occur without a carpooling system in place. These may include a lack of parking available, an increase in petrol price as well as the presence of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes.

All this being said, it is one thing for a business of any size to organize such a scheme. However, for the busy Mum or Dad who just wants to save a bit of time and money, as well as making steps towards sustainability, it might be as simple as jotting down a few phone numbers and drawing up a roster. A few minutes of organizing now can make a great deal of difference to environmental sustainability, cost and time efficiency!

Unravelling eco fashion in Australia

The fashion world has long carried an association with ill-considered trade, environmental and labour abuse, and a lack of basic humanitarian responsibility. But Australia's growing awareness of ethical consumerism is supporting a dynamic burst in eco friendly designers who think green and create green.

During May's Australian RosemountFashion Week, event director Lucia Labbate said,

“The Australian fashion industry is well placed to make the most of the trend towards more ethical fashion. It boasts a diverse and vibrant scene of well-known brands that still have considerable manufacturing capacity here in Australia.”

With technological advances, eco-designers are transcending established fashion moulds that use non-sustainable materials and production processes.

Eight tips to support eco-friendly fashion and your wardrobe

1. Harvest local.
2. Support Fair Trade.
3. Look for garments made of sustainable and organic fabrics (mainly cotton), environmentally friendly dyes, and recycled materials.
4. Source labels that consider the environment, the health and working conditions of employees, and of their customers.
5. Ask whether your designers donate to the Australian Conservation Foundation or other green organisations.
6. Find ecostores that employ printers and manufactures who share the commitment to reducing the impact of fashion production on the environment.
7. Take part in clothing exchanges.
8. 'Renovate' used pieces.
9. Buy vintage.

Make your wardrobe space environmentally friendly; use hangers made of recycled materials, natural insect repellents, and wash green. What remains is the challenge for Australian eco friendly designers to produce sustainable garments that replace cheaply made fashion. The next step towards this end is supporting eco designers who create with style and care. For fine Polli Jewellery, designed and made from recycled stainless steel in Sydney.