The Clean Room

Why Authenticity Can't Be Faked

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:14:08 -0700

The Kids Are Alright! We talk a lot about the benefits of...

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:09:41 -0700

The Kids Are Alright!

We talk a lot about the benefits of recycling and reuse as it pertains to helping the environment, but a recent news story we came across brought a human element to the recycling cause.

A group of Chinese college students has started a recycling campaign to benefit a poor Tibetan orphan. Tsering Gyatan lives with his 68-year old grandmother and the two survive on what amounts to just over $78 US dollars per month. That money is gained from part time jobs the grandmother works while the boy is at school. There was concern that Tsering, like many other poor children, might have to drop out of school to work.

That’s when the “Sack Brothers” got involved.

The ten sophomores sprang into action collecting empty bottles, used books and newspapers from university dormitories on weekends. In the first two weeks of the campaign, they raised more money than what Tsering and his grandmother make in a month.

News of the campaign began to spread and other students soon joined the cause. Not only did students hold on to those recyclables for Tsering, but a group of female college students also made contact with the boy encouraging him to stay in school.

The Sack Brothers have vowed to keep the campaign going and will send monthly payments to help support the pair. In addition, the students plan to take their recycling campaign off campus and into other communities so that more poor children can receive help as well.

This effort emphasizes the power of recycling and showcases how just a small group of people can make a huge difference not only helping the environment, but their fellow man as well. If ten students can change one person’s life through recycling, think what’s possible if ten million made a concerted effort to recycle… the possibilities are endless.

This is Planet Earth! Last week, we talked about the little...

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:05:44 -0700

This is Planet Earth!

Last week, we talked about the little things people can do to make the world a greener place. Today, we’re taking that a step further to tell you about some organizations that are looking to clean up the earth on a much larger scale.

Earthwatch Institute: This international nonprofit has been around for four decades focusing on areas such as climate change, the ocean and unsustainable resource management. Earthwatch offers volunteers the opportunity to join expeditions alongside scientists all over the world – no experience required! Volunteers pay to be a part of the expedition, helping to fund the work.

The Earth Organization: Rehabilitating the Earth is at the core of the Earth Organization’s message. South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony founded the organization after he initiated the rescue of animals from the Baghdad Zoo during the Iraqi War. Since then the Earth Organization has helped with cleanup of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a UN resolution to protect wildlife, and implemented an environmental education curriculum for schools.

Earth Communications Office: With a little help from Hollywood, ECO uses “the power of communications to help improve the global environment.” ECO makes environmental messages that have been seen by over one billion people in 100 countries. The video messages have covered a variety of topics including climate change, the health of the ocean and over-consumption. Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and Patrick Stewart have narrated various messages. ECO says the aim is to inspire people to “take a more active role in protecting our home.”

Children of the Earth United: Developing green lifestyles doesn’t happen overnight and Children of the Earth United aims to instill green habits in kids early on. Through education, the nonprofit helps kids “develop a greater understanding and respect for animals, plants, water, soil, air and energy systems.” Children of the Earth United is also focused on recycling, green homes and introducing kids to eco-careers.

Earth911.com: Recycling is at the root of this company. It offers an online recycling directory that tells people where they can go to recycle all kinds of different products all around the country. A user simply types in the product they wish to recycle and then a zip code or address, and Earth911 will tell them where to find the nearest recycling center that accepts that particular product. The website is also a one stop center to find out about all kinds of green news and tips.

Whether it be something as simple as using Replenish or taking part in an expedition to study the effects of global warming, people around the world have joined the Green Movement. We’re proud to be a part of the solution and we hope that more and more people will get involved in the cause. After all, this IS Planet Earth… and it’s the only one we have.

Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference… It’s no secret...

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:56:04 -0700

Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference…

It’s no secret that recycling and reuse are vital components to a healthier Earth. While the problem may seem too big for one person to feel like they are making an impact, that’s actually not the case. There are many little things that we can do in our daily lives to cut down on pollution. The Clean Air Council has released a list of Waste and Recycling Facts that offers statistics and solutions to help build a better world.

A few eye openers on the list:

Bring your own mug to work! The average office worker goes through some 500 disposable cups every year. Implementing a BYOM policy at your office will not only help the planet, but could actually help out your company’s bottom line!

Use reusable shopping bags. Yes, many of us have implanted this already, but not nearly enough. Approximately one billion shopping bags are still used every year… and less than one percent are actually recycled. This creates more than 300,000 tons of landfill waste and that’s just the beginning… because plastic bags are not biodegradable, over time they are broken down into particles that contaminate both land and water. Using reusables or simply reusing plastic bags you already have can go a long way in make the world a greener place.

Recycle office paper. This is an area that has seen much compliance in recent years. More than sixty percent of office paper is now recycled. Not only does recycling paper cut down on potential litter, but “recycling one ton of mixed paper saves the energy equivalent of 185 gallons of gasoline.” Not a bad trade off for simply putting paper in a recycling bin! One other benefit: producing a ton of new paper from recycled paper saves 17 trees!

Think twice about bottled water. Did you know that when you pay for a bottle of water, only ten percent of that cost is for the water itself? The rest goes toward bottling, marketing, shipping and packaging. And what kind of water are you actually getting? More than forty percent of purified water sold in the US starts out as municipal water. When plastic bottles end up in a landfill, they take thousands of years to decompose because they are shielded from the sun.

Recycle your cell phones! Planning on getting the iPhone 5? What will become of your current cell? Unfortunately many people do not properly dispose of their outdated models and those end up in landfills. The EPA reports that only about ten percent of mobile phones are properly recycled. In addition to the environmental benefits, there is a major economic factor to recycling cells: if just one million cell phones are recycled, more than 35 thousand pounds of copper, more than 770 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and more than 30 pounds of palladium can be recovered.

These are just a few of the items listed in the report. Going green doesn’t have to be a major undertaking. Taking just a few small green steps at a time can really make a huge difference.

Everything’s Gone Green! What isn’t green these days?...

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:27:11 -0700

Everything’s Gone Green!

What isn’t green these days? Not that we’re complaining… quite the contrary! It is inspiring to see more and more items make the jump toward greener pastures even as the world gets more and more tech savvy.

Which brings us to this week’s focus: Mobile Apps!

As Smartphones gain popularity, so do apps! The slogan: “there’s an app for that” has never been truer and there are now actually several apps that cater to a greener lifestyle. Here are a few we really like:

Green Genie: This interactive green app has received rave reviews. Not only does it give you 100-ideas on how to go green, contain just about everything you ever needed to know about sustainability along with links to green websites and organizations, but it also has a social function called the Green Genie Global Community which allows users to share their own green ideas with other app users. The green recommendations are aimed at saving you money, so the 99-cent charge will more than pay for itself!

Find Green: So you want to be an eco-friendly shopper, but don’t know where the eco-friendly businesses are? “Find Green” is a good place to start! This app contains a huge database of sustainable businesses. No matter what North American state or city you’re in, you can find everything from “local recycling centers to farmers markets to green product retailers.” The app also allows users to add their own green business recommendations to the database.

GoodGuide: “Shop your values wherever you shop!” That’s the focus of GoodGuide, an app that tells you whether an item you’re interested in buying is “safe, healthy, green and socially responsible.” How does it work? Well, GoodGuide has a barcode-scanning feature with information on over 120,000 products. You simply scan the item you are considering, tell the app the criteria you are concerned about and it in turn will tell you whether that product lives up to your expectations!

With so many green apps now at your fingertips, “It’s not easy being green” is no longer a viable excuse! In fact, being green has never been easier! Turn your smartphone green and take another eco-friendly step forward…

“Shine All the Buttons on Your Green Shirt” What does...

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:48:36 -0700

“Shine All the Buttons on Your Green Shirt”

What does eco-friendly clothing mean to you?

Does your mind immediately drift to Birkenstocks and hemp T-shirts? If so, you’re not alone.

For far too long, eco-friendly clothing has ben associated with the image of nouveau hippies clinging to the throwback days of the late 60’s.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

Eco-friendly fashion is a booming business with more and more designers integrating cutting edge styles and environmental sensitivity. As the environmental effort has gathered steam, the cost of producing clothing made from organic materials or without fur or leather has gone down. While higher end fashion designers such asStella McCartney continue to produce responsible fashion lines, more accessible retailers such as H&M and even Target have released eco-friendly clothing lines of their own.

So the opportunity to make the switch to environmentally friendly clothing is there!

Here are a few designers/labels that have caught our eye recently:

Mongrel: This UK company creates edgy T-shirts that are steeped in the memories of the 80’s and 90’s print tees. The shirts are made from certified organic jersey, peace silk (vegetarian silk), and unusual reclaimed fabrics. Mongrel Clothing is also made in Britain, sweatshop free and hand printed with water based inks.

Stewart + Brown: Self proclaimed “Organic Pioneers,” Karen Stewart and Howard Brown use only organic cotton in their designs. This means the cotton is free from pesticides, herbicides and other cancer causing toxins. They also only use renewable fibers that are cultivated without the use of herbicides, pesticides or defoliants and are sustainably harvested.

Pure Threads: This line is a collaborative between Italian designer Alberta Feretti and Emma Watson, aka Hermione Granger! No spells or charms were used in the production of this retro 70’s look. Instead the clothing was made from “organic textiles including cotton poplin, cotton muslin as well as hemp with lace embellishment.”

If new fashion isn’t your thing, keep in mind that reusing and recycling clothing is another way to go green. Buying at resale and vintage shops prevents waste… and it won’t break the bank!

Eco-friendly fashion is an easy way to reduce your own carbon footprint. Going organic helps “preserve and sustain the quality of our air, water, food and land for current and future generations.” Every little thing we do helps… what are you waiting for? It’s time to go shopping!

Cast Your Vote!

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:40:00 -0700

What do Matt Damon, Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Johnson and Sting have in common? More than you think!

Besides being rich, famous, successful and artistic, they are all also environmentally friendly.

Just for fun, we’ve posted a poll on Facebook asking which of these celebrities is the most eco-friendly and would be the best spokesperson for Replenish and the cause of reuse.

And the nominees are:

Matt Damon: The Bourne Identity star was born to Replenish! The actor turned environmentalist co-founded water.org, an organization that looks to provide “adequate, safe drinking water worldwide.”

Natalie Portman: She may be a Black Swan on the silver screen, but she’s all green in real life! Natalie is a vegan, has released her own line of vegan shoes and even has an eco friendly engagement ring!

Leonardo DiCaprio: The “Titanic” star (pun intended) is a renowned environmental activist. He does the little things such as driving a hybrid and installing solar panels, but has gone beyond that producing “11th hour,” a film about global warming and donating one million dollars to the wildlife Conservation Society.

Jack Johnson: The folk rocker and surfer works tirelessly to promote environmental awareness. His Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation has raised more than 750-thousand dollars for environmental, arts and music education. His “All At Once” campaign supports environmentally friendly causes such as sustainable local food systems and plastic-free initiatives.

Sting - The former Police frontman has been laying down the activist law for decades. He founded the Rainforest Foundation Fund aimed to save the rainforests and protect the rights of the indigenous peoples living there. Sting has also campaigned for amnesty and raised money to help victims of natural disasters.

And the winner is:

Well, that’s up to you! Any and all would be welcome Replenishers… maybe they already are!

But we want to know what YOU think! Who, out of the five, would make the best case for using Replenish?

Go to our Facebook page and vote! The contest ends Tuesday September 20th. We’ll post the winner on Friday September 23rd.

Hello Bentley University Students! If you received a bottle...

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:59:00 -0700

Hello Bentley University Students!

If you received a bottle of Replenish for your on-campus apartment this year, we want you to show the world how you’re using it in the “How Do You Replenish?” video contest.

We will give a Replenish internship to the Bentley student whose video gains the most votes, an Amazon Kindle to the Bentley student with the second most votes, and a pizza party to the Bentley student with the third most votes.

Just create a 2-minute video to show us how you use Replenish and you will have a chance to win a month-long internship with Replenish, an Amazon Kindle, or a pizza party.

To submit your entry, simply post a link to your entry video on THIS blog post along with your name and current email address (Don’t worry, we’ll only use email addresses to notify winners and ensure delivery of prizes). The deadline for submission is September 25 at 11:59pm EST.

Voting will begin after submission acceptance closes and will last for one week, from September 28 through October 5. Voting will take place on an official voting post on the Clean Room blog. Anyone can vote, so tell your friends and family to vote for your video once voting opens. Official details are below.

Contest Dates

Entries will be accepted from: Monday, September 19 at 12am EST through Friday, September 25 at 11:59pm EST.

Submissions will not be accepted if uploaded after September 26 at 12am EST.

Voting begins on the “Clean Room” voting post on Wednesday, September 28 at 12pm EST. The link will be provided to all valid entrants after the close of the submission timeframe.

Voting ends Wednesday, October 5.

Winners will be announced the week of October 12 and awards will be distributed the following week, October 19.

Eligibility

The contest is open to Bentley University Freshmen through Seniors living on campus, Bentley Green Society members along with students who are committed to developing green habits

The contest is not open to Bentley University faculty, staff or administration

Contestants may only submit one video per person

Submission will only be accepted from participants residing in the Continental U.S. – including Hawaii and Alaska

Official Rules

1. Eligible contestants must be a current Bentley University student living on-campus who received a bottle of Replenish from the Office of Sustainability, The Office of Residence Life or Bentley Green Society for his or her apartment.

2. Each valid video entry must include the following: the contestant’s first name (spoken or text overlay) and an actual bottle of Replenish.

3. Videos must be no longer than 2 minutes.

4. Submissions must be clean i.e. no foul language, nudity, cursing, etc.

5. Upload video to YouTube with the tag “How I Replenish” in quotation marks.

6. Post a link to your YouTube video entry and your current email address on the Replenish “Clean

Room” submission post in the comments section no later than September 25 at 12am EST. (link to come)

7. Winners will be notified via email provided with his or her entry.

8. Post a link to your original YouTube video to the Replenish “Submissions” blog post in the comments section.

9. The rest is up to you! The creative possibilities are endless, but would be most awesome with a green lifestyle message. Some ideas: a. Show the world how you customized your bottle with permanent markers and rhinestones with a DIY How-To video. b. Or Make up a rap video including the tagline and process for using Replenish: “Flip. Mix. Clean.”

Voting Process

1. Anyone can vote for their favorite video using the official voting poll on the “Clean Room” official voting post (link to come). The name of all entrants will be listed in the poll options.

2. Voters may only vote on one video one time, so choose wisely and spread the word using social media so that your friends and family can vote, too. Every vote counts and the contestant with the greatest number of votes win!

3. The winner will be notified via email.

Prizes

1. Grand Prize: Month-long virtual internship (timing TBD)

2. Second place: Amazon Kindle

3. Third place: Pizza party with friends (valued up to $75)

One winner will also be selected to be a guest blogger on Replenish’s Blog “The Clean Room”

Originality

All submitted videos must be original, unpublished and created solely by the submitting entrant and not violate the intellectual property rights, copyright or right of property of any third party. Copyrighted materials will not be accepted unless specific permission for the use can be shown.

Privacy

Personal information provided by the entrant will be used by Replenish to administer the contest and will not be used for any reason.

How Did We Get Here?

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:59:00 -0700

We all know pollution is a huge problem, but how did it get so bad? An Academy Award nominated film attempts to answer that question in a roundabout way.

“Let’s Pollute” is a six-minute animated film that takes a satirical approach to addressing pollution. Presented in 1950’s educational film style, Let’s Pollute plants it’s tongue firmly in cheek as it traces the growth of pollution and instructs us all on how to be “better polluters for a better, more blighted tomorrow!”

The announcer’s opening lines set the tone for what is to come: “Pollution is our heritage and keeps our economy going strong!” It then takes us back in time to the landing of the pilgrims suggesting we are polluters at heart. We see the invention of the modern machine during the Industrial Revolution and the evolution of trains, planes and automobiles. The film suggests that over the years, machines have been reshaped into “the pinnacle of polluting perfection.”

But there’s more to pollution than just machines, and Let’s Pollute takes aim at a normal family “polluting its way through an average day.” Again, taking a cynical approach to the subject, Let’s Pollute shows just how easy it is to contribute to pollution by simply failing to reuse and recycle. The film targets the old cliché “Want Not, Waste Not” and instead suggests an alternative of “Want It, Waste It!”

Also included in the backhanded message is the economic impact of pollution and how some companies actually benefit from waste. Check out this clip from the film as Let’s Pollute goes after the corporate world.

The film winds down with a checklist known as “The Twice Rule:”

Always buy TWICE what you need
Never use the same thing TWICE
Waste TWICE as much as yesterday
Never think TWICE about it

Let’s Pollute ends with this message: “Pollution… It’s your privilege and duty! Do your part! Don’t delay… pollute today!”

Now obviously, children probably shouldn’t view this film as the messaging is likely to get lost in translation, but for the rest of us, Let’s Pollute is a brilliant satire on the current state of pollution.

It preaches to the choir, but the witty message is loud and clear. Presented in vintage animation, Let’s Pollute is an instant classic among eco-friendly films.

(Let’s Pollute is available in the iTunes store.)

The Six R's?

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:59:32 -0700

We all remember “The Three R’s:” Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic, don’t we?

Let’s hope so!

Well, as the kids go back to school to learn those three R’s, a new trio of R’s has risen to prominence for the rest of us: Reuse, Recycle and… Replenish!

There are countless things you can do to put your kids on the green path to learning and the US Environmental Protection Agency has actually come out with a list of eco-friendly tips you can adopt as the fall semester begins. Here are a few recommendations from the list.

Buy Smart! Purchase and use a wide assortment of supplies made from recycled products, such as pencils made from old blue jeans; binders made from old shipping boxes. Many types of recycled paper products contain a percentage of Post Consumer Waste (PCW). You can also reuse items like refillable pens, rechargeable batteries and scrap paper for notes.

Waste from packaging accounts for more than 30-percent of all the waste generated each year. Use school supplies wrapped with minimal packaging; use compact or concentrated products; or buy products that come in bulk sizes.

Use nontoxic products, inks and art supplies, such as vegetable-based inks, white tape instead of white out, water-based paints and batteries with less mercury.

Once you’ve got the kids squared away with their eco-friendly supplies, it’s time to replenish! Wipe away that summer grime… Replenish your home! Not only will your house shine and smell fresh, Replenishing could actually contribute to your child’s educational success! Really! The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Happy Learning recommends a “clean, well-lit space” for kids to do their homework to enhance their learning experience. And did we mention Replenish is non-toxic and thus safe for kids?

Get your kids on the right path to learning their three R’s by adopting your own: Reuse, Recycle and Replenish. It’s a win-win for your family and the environment.

Changing our perception can unlock new possibilities. All we...

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:06:26 -0700

Changing our perception can unlock new possibilities. All we have to do is be open-minded. If we stay a little naive and believe in change, we can see potential in everything around us, not limits. This little spot points that idea out beautifully.

Only GOLD C2C Certified Cleaner in the World

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:47:38 -0700

Only GOLD C2C Certified Cleaner in the World:

We finally did it. Replenish is the only GOLD certified C2C cleaner in the world. Why is that a big deal? Well, it’s funny because 4 years ago I wouldn’t have been able to tell you why but now I can. Cradle to Cradle is the most rigorous, boundary pushing thinking in the world when it comes to chemistry, design and performance. There is no status-quo, only opportunity for meaningful change by rethinking how we make things. To be a part of that movement keeps me inspired to create a better future for all of life’s diversity.

Watch Daniel Tarockoff, a senior at Walled Lake Western High...

Tue, 17 May 2011 12:54:02 -0700

Watch Daniel Tarockoff, a senior at Walled Lake Western High School in Michigan, as he gives an encore performance of his 2011 STATE FINALS award winning debate presentation of why Replenish and being a REUSER is better for the planet. I couldn’t be more proud of him. Daniel has the enthusiasm, ambition and creativity that makes him a natural leader. Watch out world. Here comes Daniel.

New interview with our recycling partner Greenopolis. When you...

Fri, 06 May 2011 17:21:02 -0700

New interview with our recycling partner Greenopolis. When you Become a Reuser with Replenish, you get rewards for recycling your pods through our partnership with Greenops!

In honor of Star Wars Day, we used Replenish as a lightsaber...

Wed, 04 May 2011 16:51:34 -0700

In honor of Star Wars Day, we used Replenish as a lightsaber and defeated the evil Plastic Emperor and his Imperial Army of plastic spray bottles.

Support your neighbors

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:22:59 -0700

Support your neighbors

It’s been an inspiring week visiting Whole Foods stores...

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:42:13 -0700

It’s been an inspiring week visiting Whole Foods stores throughout the Midwest. Very proud to be a part of this.

I don't believe your web page is user friendly. I was trying to find examples of what your cleaner cleans...windows? furniture? Also, where's the order page? It should be in a place that's easy to find and it isn't. Couldn't determine the price...I gave up and wrote this and now, I'm gone. Adios!

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:59:03 -0700

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience on the site. We are always looking for ways to improve so thank you for the feedback. The BUY NOW button is one of three buttons at the top of site. Click that and all prices come up. As for what Replenish cleans, the HELP section at the bottom has Replenish Formula which lists everything that Replenish cleans.

Again, sorry you had a bad experience. We will try to further refine the site. Thanks

Yes, we can....

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:49:24 -0700

Yes, we can....:

One billion bottles out of landfills, one billion supply chain miles off our roads. One billion pounds of chemicals out of the environment. The future starts today.

Wow. WOW and wOOwww… When I came up with the idea for...

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:32:12 -0700

Wow. WOW and wOOwww…

When I came up with the idea for Replenish almost 5 years ago, I only dreamed that one day I would see something this cool. And here it is, thanks to Gaylon White and his talented team at Eastman Innovation Lab.

There is so much to say but I will just keep it simple. This is just plain awesome.

Keep dreaming everybody- jason