Use Less Stuff: Environmentally Friendly Items

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) - Its St. Patrick's Day, so it's only natural to be thinking about the keepin' of the green. What I've brought along to help us do so is a fairly esoteric collection of environmentally friendly items - odds and ends, if you will.

My first item actually is a collection. Its the Eco Starter Kit from a company called ecoHatchery . This waste reduction kit includes an energy monitor, a brush for cleaning refrigerator coils, a freezer thermometer, a reusable water bottle, insulation materials, and a booklet full of waste-reducing tips.

You can learn more about all their kits by going online to www.ecohatchery.com/actionpack . And between now and Earth Day, which is April 22, you can get a special Fox 2/Use Less Stuff 10% discount if you order a kit and use the promotion code EARTH27.

OK, I've spoken many times about the environmental value of concentrates, which deliver more product per unit of packaging. Most laundry detergents are now double concentrated. But this new one called Greenshield is quadruple concentrated! Its also 100% organic, made only from natural ingredients. And this unique flexible package uses about 80% less materials than rigid plastic containers. Available at Whole Foods and Lowes Home Centers.

I've also talked about ways to reduce waste by purchasing products that come without boxes. I found these trash bags at Kroger. They've removed the box and simply put a paper sleeve around the roll of bags. This approach saves you money, too. These 15 bags only cost 99 cents.

By the way, instead of purchasing garbage bags, you can save more money and resources by reusing your grocery sacs as trash bags. One of the problems with doing this has been that many grocery sacs don't fit snuggly in trash bins. They tend to fall down or flop over when adding food and other debris.

Here's a very clever invention that should solve the problem. This new, still being developed trash bin has a clever hook system that holds plastic grocery bags in place. It was created by Allen Moses , a Brooklyn, New York architect turned green inventor.

Hes also developed this cool little reusable handle that makes it easy to carry the most groceries with the fewest bags. Perfect for you city folks who walk to and from the food store.

Finally, Ive discovered that it doesn't always make sense to eliminate the box. Take this new wine container. It holds 3 liters, the equivalent of 4 bottles. All of that heavy, breakable glass is replaced by lightweight, recycled cardboard. Plus, the combination of bag and spout keeps air out of the wine, so it lasts for weeks after opening. In fact, saving the wine from going bad may be the real waste reducing value of this package.

And, by buying in bulk, you're also paying less. This rather tasty zinfandel cost me $20, or only $5 a bottle. Perfect for a St. Paddy's Day toast.

Thanks for watching and check out more eco-friendly tips at www.use-less-stuff.com .

Happy St. Patricks Day!