4/14/12

Did you know more than 1.6 million disposable pens are tossed into the trash every year? One way to cut down on the waste is to look for writing utensils made from recycled materials. Staples' Eco Easy program helps customers identify green office supplies. One pen it offers is made from 75 percent recycled water bottles. Other eco options include 100 percent recycled reams of paper, bamboo flash drives and folders made from recycled paper and plastic.

4/13/12

While you may be limited by the types and sizes of liquids you can carry through airport security, what you pick up after your screening is a whole different matter. Bring an empty, reusable water bottle with you as part of your carry-on luggage, and fill it up in the terminal. Restaurants, coffee shops and fast food beverage fountains are all great places to get free water. Newer airports -- like San Francisco's eco-friendly Terminal 2 -- are starting to offer filtered water refill stations for your convenience.

4/12/12

For food storage, the greenest, healthiest and most energy-efficient choice is glass. Glass storage containers keep cold better and longer than other materials (like plastic). The colder the glass containers stay, the less the refrigerator and freezer have to work. Plus, glass containers don't absorb odors or stains, so smells aren't transferred to other foods when you use them over and over again.