PaperlessKitchen Blog

Introducing 4 New Bamboo Studio Dinnerware Sets for Kids

Want your kiddo to devour those healthy veggies, not just the chicken nuggets on the plate? Sometimes, all it takes is a fun plate to encourage little ones to eat every morsel of food. Our four new Bamboo Studio Kids dinnerware sets reward little ones for clearing their plates with colorful graphics.

Each set includes a cup, a bowl, a spook, a fork and either a sectioned plate or a traditional dinner plate. There are four new styles to choose from:

1. Halloween Cat

 It's the perfect way to make mealtime fun! This set has a purple color scheme with a festive Halloween theme that includes black cats, witches, pumpkins and a bat. As a fun finishing touch, the bowl has kitty ears.

 

 

2. Halloween Pumpkin

Your toddler will find this set beautiful! Orange just like pumpkins, this Halloween themed set includes friendly ghosts, creepy spiders, jack-o-lanterns and a wolf howling at the moon.

 

 

 

3. Sassy Strawberry

Every meal will be berry sweet with this bright red dinnerware set. The bowl and plate are shaped like strawberries, as are the handles on the silverware.

 

 

4. Crazy Carrot

 Your child might look at carrots in a whole new way after seeing these fun, vibrant orange pieces. Carrot shapes abound in the collection with the plate, bowl and silverware featuring them.

 

 

 

Not only are these dinnerware sets plenty of fun, but they're also very friendly to the planet. Each piece is made from renewable bamboo, and it's FDA approved as food safe. You get the unbreakable quality of plastics without any of the toxins with these sets. When your little one outgrows them, you can toss them out without any guilt, as they're biodegradable.

 

Check out all four sets here at Paperless Kitchen and tell us which is your favorite in the Comments section.

Minneapolis Passes Plastic Bag Ban

Plastic bag waste is a major environmental concern. Over 1 trillion plastic bags are used around the world every year, leading to tons of non-biodegradable waste ending up in landfills. Concerns about the eco impact of plastic bags has led several major cities across the U.S. to pass laws to discourage the use of disposable bags. On April 1, 2016, Minneapolis became the latest U.S. city to pass such a green law.

 

Passed by a vote of 10-3, the new Minneapolis city ordinance will require all retailers to stop using plastic bags with handles as of June 2017. Bags without handles like those used for dry cleaning, fresh flowers and produce will still be able to be used.

 

 image source: http://wjon.com/minneapolis-council-votes-for-plastic-bag-ban-paper-bag-fee/

 

One concern about plastic bag bans is that they result in an increased use of paper bags, which contributes to deforestation. To address this problem, the Minneapolis bag ban includes a $.05 fee on paper bags for all customers except those who receive food stamps. Retailers that don't want to pass this fee along to customers have the option to pay $.05 for each bag given out to fund city cleanup programs. Many retailers will likely end up requiring people to purchase the bags in order to avoid incurring the expense.

 

If you live in Minneapolis or simply want to carry your groceries in a more eco friendly way, check out Chico Bags! Designed especially for carrying groceries, these bags are made from sustainable materials like cotton and hemp. Sold in a set of three, the Chico Bags roll up and fit into an apple carrying case to make them easy to bring with you on the go. You can check them out and buy a set here.

There's Another Toxin in Plastic You Need to Know About

In recent years, public health officials have done a good job educating consumers about the dangerous of bisphenol A or BPA. Many manufacturers of plastic products have stopped using BPA in their products due to concerns that the substance can cause a number of health problems, including asthma, heart disease, infertility, cancer and development disorders in children. Now, a study has concluded that one of the plastic additives being used as a replacement for BPA may be just as dangerous.

 

The study in question was published in the journal Endocrinology and examines the effects of a substance called Bisphenol S or BPS. BPS is one of the most commonly used alternatives for BPA. During the study, the scientists exposed the embryos of zebrafish to BPS and BPA and observed what happened to them. The brain cells of the creatures exposed to both chemicals underwent similar transformations, and there were disruptions in the genome that would impact reproduction.

 

Based on the scientific evidence, the researchers concluded that BPS causes harmful affects to the endocrine system just like BPA. While more research is needed to validate their findings, it does point to the fact that not all BPA-free plastics are safe alternatives to the toxic plastic.

 

Public health experts have spoken out since the release of the journal article urging people to be choosy about the plastic that they use and to find out if BPS is used in place of BPA. The experts also recommend using other types of materials when possible, such as silicone baby bottles like the ones sold by ThinkBaby or bamboo dinnerware.

 

 You can find a number of types of alternative dinnerware for purchase in our tableware department here at Paperless Kitchen.

 

UCSB's Paper Towel Free Project Helping to Save Trees

This school year, there is a new push to go paperless at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Called the Paper Towel Free Project, the move is being orchestrated by the he Zero Waste Committee at the university and by the school’s Residence Hall Association.

 

In two of the campuses' dormitories, environmental floors have had their paper towel dispensers removed from bathrooms. Everyone who lives on the floor was given a reusable hand towel, and there are hooks provided in the lavatories for storing the towels while using the restroom.

 

The project follows a ban on paper towels in all bathroom residence halls at the University of California, Santa Cruz, a part of the university's plan to produce zero waste by 2020. Paper towels are still being kept in kitchen and laundry areas for use when there are spills or other messes with which to be dealt.

 

The story of the Paper Towel Free Project as told in The Bottom Line can serve as inspiration for anyone looking to ditch paper towels and establish a paperless kitchen. You can start small; try only using paper towels for emergencies and using a reusable towel or green disposable at other times to get started. Gradually, you can decrease usage for other purposes and eventually switch only to reusables and unpaper towels.

 

                                       

                                                Check out our paper towel alternatives!

 

Paperless Kitchen Tested: MyDrap Cotton Bundles Review

Recently, we added MyDrap Cotton Bundles to our collection of paper napkin alternatives and unpaper towels. I decided to put a bundle to the test to see how these paper replacements worked in a real kitchen. I was curious to see what they felt like and how well they held up from use to use.

                                                 

The Basics

The MyDrap Cotton Bundle is a pack of 20, 8-inch by 8-inch napkins made from 100 percent cotton. They have a very unique texture that you notice right away. The napkins feel much more durable than paper but they don't feel as soft as ordinary fabric napkins either. It's somewhere in between the two. If you used these for entertaining, guests would know for sure that you hadn't put out paper. The color I tested was Lipstick Red, which has attractive white contrast stitching along the edges.

                                               

The Size and Use Test

I picked up a small package of paper napkins to compared a MyDrap cotton napkin to the disposable kind. As you can see from the pictures, when folded, the MyDrap napkin is smaller than the paper napkin, but when unfolded, it's bigger in size. I used the MyDrap napkin while I was eating dinner and I was impressed by how absorbent it was. It's definitely softer against the skin than paper, and it just feels fancier.

                                          

 The Wash Test

One of the things that is the most unique about MyDrap Napkins is that although they are disposable, they can still be laundered up to six times. I tossed mine in the washing machine to see what would happen. Sure enough, the napkin came out in good condition. The red didn't fade, and it didn't bleed onto the white. I hung it up and allowed it to dry. It did wrinkle, as you can see from the photo, so I decided to go over it with my iron on the lowest setting. The wrinkles were easy to press out. The napkin looked like new again and could easily have been used for entertaining. If I was just going to dine on my own, I would have easily been able to use it wrinkled, too.

                                                                   

 

          

                                                                   

 

The Takeaway

The MyDrap Cotton Bundle is definitely a product I would purchase to use on a regular basis. Although they are more expensive than most paper napkins, being able to reuse them partly offsets the price, and for me, the fact that they don't waste paper and feel so much better makes up for the rest. I would highly recommend these both for everyday use and for entertaining.                                       

                                                

Check Out Our Favorite Unpaper Towels

Finding ways to ditch paper towels in the kitchen is one of the most important parts of establishing a truly paperless kitchen. Our paper towels alternatives collection has a wide selection of unpaper towels that you can use in place of paper in your kitchen. But which one is the best? It really depends on your needs. Here are some of our top picks for paper towel replacements for specific purposes.

 

- For Your Paper Towel Holder - If you love the convenience of having paper towels within easy reach on a roll in your kitchen, Bambooee Bamboo Paper Towels are the perfect alternative. They come on a roll just like ordinary paper towels, but they are made from organic bamboo. You can also launder and reuse the towels before throwing them away.

 

 

                                                 

 

 

- For Dish Drying - The Full Circle In the Buff Dish Towel is the perfect choice for drying dishes in place of paper. The towel is made of 70 percent bamboo and 30 percent organic cotton, so it's both durable and soft. We have a selection of colors to match your decor.

 

                                               

 

 

- For Those Uh-Oh Moments - When you have a sudden spill or mess on your hands, you'll love having the Full Circle Magnetic Kitchen Towel around to save the day. This towel has a magnet sewn into its bamboo and organic cotton fabric, so it will always be right where you need it.

 

                                          

 

- For Cleaning - Instead of grabbing a paper towel to wipe down the counters, use a SKOY cloth. When wet, these paper towel alternatives made from cellulose fibers are reusable, biodegradable cleaning machines. We have a variety of SKOY value packs available to help you stock up.

 

                               

 

 

- For Hand Drying - PeopleTowels are colorful, unique square organic cotton towels that are perfectly sized for drying your hands. The towels are sold individually and in multi-packs.

 

                        

 

What's your favorite unpaper towel in the Paperless Kitchen collection? Let us know in the "Comments" section.

 

 

Introducing....MyDrap Cloth Napkins, the Fashionable and Eco-friendly Alternative to Paper Napkins

Paperless Kitchen is pleased to announce the addition of MyDrap Cotton Bunches to our collection. These paper napkin alternatives are a luxurious way to get your kitchen a little more paperless and a lot more fashionable. No need to sacrifice your sense of style for your commitment to the environment with the MyDrap Folded Cotton Napkin Bundles.  

Made from 100 percent cotton, MyDrap cotton squares are 8 inches by 8 inches in size and feel like a lightweight cloth napkin. You can wash the napkins in the washing machine six times before you have to throw them away, and you can recycle or compost them. They are also 100 percent biodegradable, making them suitable for throwing out in the trash as well.

 

A family-owned and operated company based in Spain, Hostel Drap has developed these MyDrap green disposable napkins on the basis of a design that they pioneered for use in the hospitality industry. Now, you can get these high quality, colorful cotton napkin replacements right here at Paperless Kitchen for a great low price.

                                     

                                   

 

We offer MyDrap Cotton Bundles in 15 different colors. Each pack contains 20 squares. Check them out today and let us know what you think!

 

BAMBOOEE PAPER TOWELS RECEIVE MEDIA ATTENTION

 I'm accustomed to seeing news about green products on environmental blogs, but it's rare to see a mainstream newspaper website touting the benefits of a green product unless there's a big story behind it. This week, I was surprised to see a short piece on the Charlotte Observer website about a product that we've discussed on the blog before--Bambooee Bamboo Paper Towels. 

It's exciting to see that a paperless product is gaining some attention, and it's easy to understand why the towels warranted a mention. Because of their absorbency, these reusable paper towels are the equivalent to more than 200 rolls of paper towels. You can reuse a single sheet up to 100 times and even launder it in the washing machine.

Bamboo is an excellent alternative to the wood pulp used in paper because it is strong, absorbent and grows very quickly. Harvesting bamboo does not require removing the root of the plant, so the plant never stops growing. If you haven't checked out Bambooee Bamboo Paper Towels yet, now's the perfect time to give them a try.

Have you used Bambooee towels? Let us know what you think of them in the "Comments" section.

 

Paperless Kitchen Now Sells Steamers!

 We are thrilled to announce that we have now added Vapamore steam cleaners to our inventory of green cleaning products!

 The decision to carry steamers is a natural extension of our mission to make reducing the size of your eco-footprint an easier task. Steam cleaning allows you to tackle a virtually endless amount of cleaning jobs without having to use chemicals and is a viable option for treating bedbugs, freshening clothing, detailing automobiles and performing a wide array of specialty cleaning jobs.

 Recently, we have read a lot about the benefits of steam cleaning and began investigating the options available on the market. Of the many steam-cleaning products that we researched, Vapamore impressed us the most.

 The brand's steamers are ETL certified, durable, easy to use and effective and backed by manufacturer's warranties. The company's eco-conscious philosophy was also in line with our own, making Vapamore an easy choice.

 You'll now find two Vapamore steamers featured on our site: the Vapamore MR-50 steam vacuum and the Vapamore MR-100 Primo steamer. The MR-50 is a hand-held wet-dry vacuum and steamer combination, while the MR-100 Primo is a full-size, rolling steamer. You can learn more about both models by visiting their product pages.

 In the coming weeks, we'll be reviewing a Vapamore steamer to give you an inside look at what it's like to use the steam cleaners. If you have questions about steam cleaning or our Vapamore collection, please feel free to contact us for more information.

Great Green Gifts for College Students for Under $30

Out of everyone on my holiday shopping list, my 21-year-old cousin always seems to cause the biggest shopping dilemma. Now that he's in college, it's hard to decide what gifts are both practical and "cool".

To help you find the perfect gift for that 18-to-20-something on your list, here's some affordable gift ideas for college students.

e-Cloth Screen Cleaning Pack - $16.99

Why It's Great: Laptops are used daily by college students. Their fingerprinted, grimy screens are proof of it! This set makes it easy to quickly and safely clean computer screens as well as the touch screens on cell phones and tablet computers. The kit also includes a spray that helps prevent fingerprinting and dirt from adhering to the screen after cleaning.

Why It's Green: The tiny fibers in the cloth make it possible to clean without chemicals, and the CleanSafe screen spray is free of harsh, synthetic ingredients that are bad for the planet.

Eco Lunch Box Kit - $26.00

Why It's Great: College students often eat lunches on the go, and these reusable containers keep sandwiches, crackers and other foods from getting smashed in backpacks and messenger bags.

Why It's Green: The metal containers are reusable, unlike paper bags. The green design is free of PVC, BPA, lead and vinyl.

 

Method Tub and Tile Wipes - $21.17

Why It's Great: While it may not seem exciting to purchase bathroom cleaning wipes, your favorite college student will appreciate being able to sanitize the communal showers and restrooms in his or her dorms.

Why It's Green: The wipes are 100 percent biodegradable and are free of toxins and harsh, synthetic bleaches.

You'll find all of these great green gifts here at Paperless Kitchen and enjoy free shipping on your order!