Seven Planet

It is pretty clear…the simplest products are the best products.  Think of the value you get and the simplicity of using a pencil or a Frisbee or a pair of sunglasses.  Each provides a critical utility (i.e. pencil = communication; Frisbee = activity; sunglasses = visibility), but each is a highly simplistic product that can last for decades and essentially anyone can find value in them.  Welcome the newest great simple product…the Lunchskins, the permanent sandwich bag replacement.

We have been talking a lot about this product and the company that invented it, 3 green moms, ever since we were their initial distributor in Oregon.  The product is available in the three primary sizes of sandwich and snack bags, are dishwasher safe and are made of certified food-safe fabric.  They are lead-free, bpa-free and phthalate-free and are hand-sewn in the USA.  Finally, they are beyond affordable, especially since you will eventually break even on them.

seven planet patrons starting buying the Lunchskins at a pretty good pace in 2009, but this year it has been insane.  Every mom that walks into a seven planet store or that visits the site seems to get them.  They then love them so much they tell their friends and they walk in and get a set or two.  In turn, this simple little product has become our bestseller both in the stores and on the site.  Last month alone we sold over 30 sets on our site to moms all over the country and even internationally.  We ran out of stock just once…we won’t let that happen again.

It is truly the next great simple product.  So, just like the Frisbee, the name of the product that launched a new product category, we think Lunchskins will be name by which all permanent sandwich bags will be called.  We think they can do it…we are just here to help.

Over the last year and a half my wife and I became regular coffee drinkers.  For those of you who drink coffee on a daily basis know what this means.  We have never been the 3 to 6 cups a day type people, but rather are one single cup a day.  However those individual cups are nearly always a sizable specialty coffee (e.g. 16oz. half-caff vanilla latte).  So it is pretty much the quantity, cost, and caffeine impact of a couple of traditional cups.  So, we really started seeing the impact both to the pocketbook as well as to the planet.

We found ourselves having to recycle, and even throw away, paper coffee cups and sleeves on a daily basis.  We found ourselves spending up to $7 a day (that is $210 a month and about $2500 a year) on the beverages and we found ourselves in line for many minutes a day (that is hours a week and about two days a year).  What would we do with $2500 and two days back at the end of a year if we stopped drinking coffee?  Well the answer is that we would simply find another way to spend those dollars and would fill the time with more things already neglected in our lives.  Besides, we were not ready to give up coffee as it is one of our beverage treats that keep the day and life more enjoyable.

However, it got us thinking about bringing our coffee making “in house”.  To start with we got a simple and inexpensive coffee machine, which we probably broke even on within two weeks.  Then we had find an amazing coffee that was equal to, or better than, anything we have received at our regular spots.  We wanted a coffee that would have a positive impact on the planet and that had the earth and the people that farm it as its primary priority.  Fortunately, Panagea Organica was at seven planet and they are local, organic and fair trade.  They have an amazing founding team, supports local community events and their coffee is superb.

So, we started going to seven planet and getting our custom blend of half caffeinated (roasted utilizing a hot air bed) and half de-caffeinated (de-caffeinated through a water process that is 100% chemical free) Panagea Organica blend for around $11 and it lasts for about two weeks.  We have one very large and very delicious cup a day and all we add is organic creamer and some organic pure cane sugar.  It sincerely tastes as good as any specialty cup we have had and we can sip it on our back porch in a ceramic mug passed down from a friend.  We are now saving a ton of coin, a lot of time and a little bit of the planet all in parallel.

Are you ever slightly baffled at how many plastic bags pop up in the nooks and crannies of your house? Between all the different types of plastic bags we use, the number really adds up fast, even if you’re diligent about taking your reusable grocery bags shopping. One type of bag that I’ve never been able to think of many alternative uses for is the laundry garment bag—they rip when they get stuck on hangers, usually don’t accommodate more than a few garments, and when was the last time you properly recycled one of these bags?

Our friends at Eco Drycleaner have an eco-minded philosophy that extends beyond the non-toxic methods they use to get your stains out. Besides utilizing wind power and recycling all their materials (including hangers!), to name a couple, Eco Drycleaner shows their dedication to sustainable practices by providing customers with a reusable, sturdy laundry bag to use for all future orders.

As this article mentions, who really knows who can truly be credited with the idea. What we do know is good environmentally-friendly ideas should be shared amongst all of us on the planet and utilized in a joint effort to help reduce the amount of plastic entering our landfills. At seven planet, we partner with businesses in the area that share our idea mindful commerce, which is why we serve as a neighborhood drop-off and pick-up location for Eco Drycleaner. Have an office or home near Chinatown? Swing in with your first round of dry cleaning and we’ll get you set up with a discount on your first order.

In 34 years on planet earth I think I have probably owned approximately 15 or so backpacks in my life.  They started as a way to get all of our school materials to class in grade school, then they became fashion items in junior high, and then they moved to definitive statement of who we thought we were in high school.  Once in the working world they often lose their place and make way to laptop bags, messenger bags and briefcases.  Not for me though, I have been utilizing hybrid backpack/laptop bags for about a decade now.

Then about three weeks ago, I purchased an Alchemy Goods (Ag) backpack from seven planet.  It was the 1st of the shipment that Ag had sent to Portland.  We opened the box and we were stunned at how amazing they really were.  We had seen the founder, Eli Reich, carrying a prototype many months earlier and we knew they were the future of backpacks.  Let me just give a simple overview.  It is made primarily of upcycled bicycle inner tubes, upcycled car seat belts and billboard materials.  It is actually made of 82% upcycled/recycled materials.  It is a deep bag with multiple storage compartments and is completely water proof.  It is lined with a new standard backpack material that helps complete its look.

Because each of them is a one of kind and because no one has ever seen a bag like it I have been asked more times about this backpack than any I have ever own.  It inherently leads to a discussion about Alchemy Goods, their work, their products and the difference they are making to save the planet.  It is a walking billboard for change.  It is amazing.  This bag is one that I will keep for life…literally.  I can tell it will outlast me…though I too am willing to be upcycled as well (I am an organ donor).

In 14 years of dating and 9 years of marriage I have never consistently gotten my wife flowers…until now.  botanica: floral design, a local and organic flower shop, moved into seven planet Oregon in April of 2010 and since then my wife finally has flowers in her life.  This is due to a couple of reasons including the convenience of getting the flowers right at the store, knowing that the flowers are truly local and grown by organic farmers and it is Josef, the proprietor of botanica:.  He has a great solution for busy men wanting to provide their spouses with flowers regularly.

Let me focus on this last feature of botanica: as they have a series of “Executive Flower Package” that you can buy in advance that provide you 5 to 7 floral arrangements over the course of a year synched with major holidays (Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, etc.).  It is amazing as you define the holidays that matter to you and your spouse and then the level of floral arrangements you want (“Apprentice” to “Chairman of the Board), and if you want custom cards and local vegan chocolates with them.

Your arrangements are custom designed by botanica: and packaged with your cards and you can either pick up them at seven planet Oregon or that will be delivered to your offices if you are in the greater downtown Portland, Oregon.  It is amazing because even if you tell your spouse that you are utilizing the program they still love the fact that these beautiful bouquets show up on the holidays and that you have some yummy treats and a card that you wrote yourself.  It honestly puts the process around providing flowers.  That may not seem too romantic, but then again never getting flowers anymore is often the alternative.

Three months ago my wife stated that we needed to return our garage into a usable space for the household.  The house we moved into 4 years was a brand new Energy Star home with an insulated and finished garage, so it was a highly valuable living space from day one.  First it was a game room, with the electronic dart board and a ping pong table, then it turned into a fitness room with an elliptical and free weights and then it eventually became the catch all room.

My wife wanted it to be a room that we would use more than just for a year or a season and I wanted the same.  She had just had our 2^nd son and was tired of cleaning up the living room every day after they were done making train tracks, building cars, etc.  So, one day my son and I cleared out the garage, donated the fitness equipment to a local company and turned it into a half playroom, half storage unit.  The playroom half would have all the toys, the circus tent, the artwork, etc. and the storage unit half would have the electric mower, shovels and the bikes.  

The key thing was to easily separate the room into two distinct areas without building any walls and then to also have a ton of storage space so that nearly all of the toys and art supplies could now be in the playroom.  The answer was Way Basics Eco Shelving and specifically the Tribecta Shelves, which are available in a series of colors and were the easiest self-assembly furniture I have every worked with.  The founders of the company have refined their product over the last decade to be an eco-modular furniture that is made of recycled cardboard, but with the look and strength of laminate wood.  Then instead of utilizing names, screws or metal connection systems, they utilize an amazingly strong sticker system that allows for you to simply line up and “glue” the sides and the back of the units together.

My 3 year old son helped assemble four separate Tribecta Shelve units and within 1/20^th the time it would have taken to build a permanent wall.  Instantly we had a colorful, eco-friendly and highly functional room separator that really makes the playroom.  Each unit is customizable so you can make the shelves on each of the levels whatever width you want to store different items (as seen above with the three crazies running in front of the shelves).  This was one of the most valuable parts of the product, that it was completely customizable, and it ended up being an interactive educational opportunity with our son.  He loves the playroom and my wife states, ”we have another room in the house…one that can get messy without any worries”.

You wouldn’t believe how significant our annual budget for our dog is and the environmental impact he has based on our decisions for him.  He is a part of the family and obviously costs us dramatically less than any of us humans in the house, but it is still nothing to balk at.  So, about two months ago we committed to getting 100% of our dog’s food, treats, toys, beds, etc. through seven planet.

In just two months we purchased two beds made of recycled soda bottles from West Paw Design that were badly needed, a 50 lbs. bag of organic and local dog food, and a box of dog treats, from Castor & Pollux as well as a new dog toy for him again from West Paw Design.  When I brought all of this home and made two trips into the house with the products, for the 1st time ever I knew we were making good decisions for the planet on behalf of our dog.

In the end we were simply never thinking about the additional responsibility of owning a pet as a family member in regards to the impact on the planet.

His impact on our floors, on our yard and any stuffed animals he has gotten a hold of was very clear.  However we are now thinking about his impact in regards to his carbon paw print. We are now working to play our part on his behalf and supporting some amazing eco-focused companies in the process.  He name is Blu, but he is now our favorite green pet.

Ok, I love when Corporate America uses their dollars and influence to do some good. Especially when it comes to helping preserve this great Earth.  I stumbled upon this program sponsored by Odwalla (the Juice Company). They are promising to plant a tree in a state park in the state of your choice.  Sounds great right?! I’m totally backing this and just shared it with all of my friends and family on facebook and twitter and I encourage you all to do the same.

The Website is totally fun and really beautiful – congrats to the who ever designed the site. If anyone out there knows I would really like to know.  I’ve attached some screenshots so you know what to expect when you get there.  Here is some quick info I grabbed from the site:

For the past 2 years, along with your help, Odwalla has made a commitment to our state parks by donating money to help plant trees. It’s pretty simple. We provide the trees, and you get to decide how much support each state gets. To plant a tree, follow these steps:

Pretty great right! I planted my tree in Oregon and it looks like we are doing pretty good. My tree was the 424th tree so far so I hope to see some more in the next few days. See how your state compares below! I really hope other companies start to replicate this promotional model when considering new marketing techniques.

I am a big fan of promoting Mindful Commerce – the idea of buying only what you need or buying items that will reduce your consumption on disposable items with short lifespans but I can’t deny that I am an avid coupon cutter. Maybe the coupon gene was passed down to me from my Grandparents who were children of the Great Depression and saved everything they could. Anyway, my age group and generation makes me way more likely to seek out deals online rather than cutting out those flimsy coupons that come inside the Sunday Funnies. Not to mention the environmental benefit of not using paper coupons. Anyway, my point is I’ve been saving a lot of money lately by using online coupons and right now one of my favorite sites to find the best deals and coupons is Hip2Save.

Check out their Website at http://www.Hip2Save.com – you can thank me later!

Have a great weekend everyone.

I just found this post via Stumble Upon . We’ve all heard the plastic bag horror stories—the billions of bags discarded every year that wind up polluting oceans, killing wildlife and getting dumped in landfills where they take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Researchers have been wracking their brains for years to figure out a solution. But leave it to a Canadian high school student to leave them all in the dust. Daniel Burd, an 11th grader at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, has discovered a way to make plastic bags degrade in as little as three months—a finding that won him first prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, a $20,000 scholarship, and a chance to revolutionize a major environmental issue.

Check out the original article HERE