There’s controversy in High Line Park and if you’ve walked the retrofitted railway, you may well have sat on the very issue. It’s the wood that the designers used for the benches, bleacher seating , and decking and it’s got the Rainforest Relief organization up in arms. Why? Because the Friends of the High Line, who are responsible for the new green space in New York, choose to use old-growth ipe wood from the rainforest instead of a local sustainably-grown wood, reclaimed wood, or recycled plastic lumber.

Rainforest Relief is criticizing the Friends of the High Line for choosing the ipe wood for aesthetic reasons, as the durability of ipe is matched and even exceeded by certain woods that are local to America (Friends of the High Line maintain that they chose ipe for its longevity), and for disregarding repeated calls from the organizations urging the park designers to opt for another wood, although the park designers did contact Rainforest Relief at point to inquire about the more-sustainable black lotus wood.With increasing demand for ipe wood estimated by some to deplete it completely in the next 8 years, Rainforest Relief is now calling on the Friends of the High Line to change their ways by using an alternative wood (whether it be sustainable domestic or recycled plastic) for the final sections of the park and by making a statement about the environmental reasons for doing so. Click here to read more

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Dine al fresco this summer and not only will you be able to enjoy the great outdoors, but also you can help lower your carbon footprint a bit. When you’re eating outside, you won’t need to use energy for lighting or air conditioning. Plus, if you cook outside on a grill, you can often get the job done faster and with less of a carbon cost than you could have inside.

So give your backyard space a makeover with eco-friendly furniture. This Tofino Table and Armchair set is made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifed wood. And the wood they chose is an eco-friendly choice too: eucalyptus. The fast-growing tree can be harvested frequently making it a sustainable material. What’s more, eucalyptus is  a hard wood and it’s as durable as the popular patio furniture material teak. The difference?  Click here to read more

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Daily Greenz #65

With all the buzz about toxic toys in the news, Santa’s helpers all around the
country are scrounging for safe gifts for kids this holiday. Fortunately, this
year there are a variety of toys on the market that are both safe for your
child and the environment. When shopping for toys, avoid toys that are made
from plastic, especially the dioxin–producing  PVC, which releases toxins
into the environment throughout it’s lifecycle.  Toys made from PVC’s may
also contain phthalates which studies link to hormone disruption and even
cancer. Also, try to buy toys that use water based and low–VOC or no–VOC
(volatile organic compounds) paints. Batteries are extremely toxic as they
break down in landfills, so try to find toys that don’t require batteries. To find
these wonderful green toys, shop local independent retailers who are more
likely to put more care into the products they carry. Look for toys made from
FSC–certified wood that will last for generations.

Here are some of my favorite toy picks for this holiday season:

1) Wooden Blocks Extra Large Starter Set from Haba. $89.00

What could be more timeless than a good set of wooden blocks? This set has 102
pieces of untreated, natural beech wood of varying shapes and sizes. They come
in a reusable fabric bag, practical for storing and transporting.Visit hazelnutkids.com to purchase.

2) Vegetable Garden from Plan Toys $14.95
This little gardening set comes with a watering can, wheelbarrow, spade, and 2
vegetable beds with removable lettuce, carrots, radishes, and turnips. It is
made from preservative-free rubberwood and non-toxic water-based paint. Check out stores.planethappytoys.com to find out more.

3) Crazy Crayons
Crazy Crayons are made from non-toxic recycled crayon stubs! Each crayon is
unique and come in 100’s of shapes and themes, and custom designs are even
available upon request. Visit crazycrayons.com for more info.

4) Madagascar - Starter Set from Xeko $19.95

Xeto is "an outrageously fun, new animal trading card game that’s driving
kids wild." It won the 2006 Toy of the Year Award from Creative Child
Magazine and the 2006 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center. The
game is made from recycled paper and soy–based inks. As an added bonus, 4% of net
game sales are donated to Conservation International. Go to stores.planethappytoys.com to order.

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Daily Greenz #55

So you want to buy that little person in your life a little special something for the holidays, but the thought of shopping among the aisles of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), battery-devouring toys is downright dismaying. Don’t fret– you can still practice green during the holiday of gift-giving. Besides searching for toys that are PVC- and VOC- free (volatile organic compounds that are found in paint), keep in mind that wood is good. Toys made from FSC-certified wood are eco- and kid-friendly. Having been forested conscientiously, these toys are free from chemicals and are likely to last for years to come. Also, be sure to steer clear of toys that don’t have fair trade certification. If the factory workers didn’t have safe environments, the products probably won’t be safe for the environment. You can avoid risks like these and rest easy that your unique purchases didn’t have to globe-trot to reach your front step. Fat Brain Toys offers a wide range of green options for every age group, including a great set of building blocks for $62.70. Nab a set for the future architect in your family at fatbraintoys.com.

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