TerraSkin: The Next Generation of Paper

Ok, so I'm a bit of a trekkie and the reference is unavoidable! TerraSkin is the "Next Generation" of paper. It's a new tree-free mineral-based stock developed in the last 3 years. It's basically made up of about 75% mineral powder and 25% of non-toxic resin. It's an important development because throughout its life cycle, it has little negative impact on the environment. The production of TerraSkin requires no water, hence there are no water pollutants. At the end of its life cycle, the paper will disintegrate within 3-9 months back into mineral powder, or can be safely incinerated since the resins will not emit smoke or poisonous gas by-products, or recycled. Residues of inorganic mineral powder can also be reused or safely returned back to nature. And of course, being made without trees, its production is sparing biodiversity from the environmental blows that paper production causes. It does not absorb ink like regular paper so it uses 20%-30% less ink, and no lamination or special coatings are needed. Read all about it in the May topic of Green Notes.

Documentary: Too Hot Not To Handle

The documentary "Too Hot Not To Handle" is showing on HBO this month. It features many leading scientists and their analysis of this very complex subject of global warming. The documentary also offers lots of additional facts and quantitative data about what is happening and how our lives will be impacted by climate change. Check out the viewing schedule online. There is also a companion website called "Stop Global Warming Virtual March" at stopglobalwarming.org where you can learn more about it and find out easy tips to save money and resources.

BookWorm Watch: Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle is a highly regarded book because it squashes the paradigms we have about, what the authors call, "downcycling", which perpetuates the creation of products "from cradle to grave". They talk about how products are environmental poisons themselves in every stage of their life cycle: manufacture, product shelf and disposal. Their proposition is for eco-efficiency, where products are created with the foresight of how they will disintegrate in the environment. I am left, however, with many unanswered questions including why there is no scientific data to back up some of their claims. In addition, the authors also trademarked a certification program which makes me wonder if it perpetuates many people's assumption that being environmentally conscious is costly, elitist and difficult to achieve.

ISBN: 0-86547-587-3

Designarchy did something a little different this month. The donation went into applying to become part of the Humane Society's Urban Wildlife Sanctuary Program. While human sprawling has created some conflicts with wildlife, the program promotes nonlethal ways of resolving those conflicts as well as the appreciation for those species and the opportunity to make our cities more hospitable to those animals. You don't have to have a backyard—even a balcony with a bird feeder or a butterfly garden can help wildlife in a variety of ways. We have a bird feeder, a hummingbird feeder, a bird bath and lots of hideaway places. Check out their website at HSUS.org

Online printing is a very affordable option for short-run projects. It also saves money and prevents many toxic chemicals used for processing film and plates, and the wasteful make-ready sheets used to get the ink rollers up to speed. What's even better, there are a few online printers that use recycled paper in some or all of their products. Check out some new additions in our resources page.