Another example of the speed at which the green promotional products industry is changing is the second generation of the Organic Spa tote from the manufacturer Gemline.

Like many of the wonderful bags from this manufacturer, this tote is made from 100% certified organic cotton fabric and azo-free dyes.

However look at the front of the tote. This material originally was made of bamboo, it is now made from woven jute.

Why? We suspect a few reasons. Jute may be less expensive and it also makes for a more supple bag that is a bit lighter, easier to carry and easier to place embroidery or silk screening on.

The main point I want to make is that the time between Organic Spa Tote I and Organic Spa Tote II was less than 6 months. This normally would not happen with promotional items, but I have seen it in eco-friendly items again and again.

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It’s a good thing really, enabling you to BYOB (bring your own bag) on any numerous shopping excursions.

On one such recent shopping excursion to everyone’s favorite big box store, Target, I found another green offering to the tote world. Made of 100% organic materials, the cute market tote is available with sassy slogans like “Kiss me I’m Organic” and “I don’t do Plastic.”

While not hand made, it is refreshing to see organics and other eco-friendly materials and products making it to the mainstream. And with any of the Fabulous Fabrics, the totes could easily be recreated. Try using either of these projects. Just add your own eco slogan.

“DIY or Die!” anyone?

The designer came up with this idea while visiting her mother in Maine. After taking notice of the strong canvas material that made up the sails on a boat, she realized that this material would make a sturdy alternative material for bags and pillows all while saving them from going to landfills.

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You’re under intense pressure to find that perfect organic chocolate bunny. I could not, with a straight face, suggest that you attempt to weave baskets yourself when there exists such cute alternatives by a talented, green-minded crafter. Fisheye creates items using recycled and repurposed materials, including the Easter bag pictured above.

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Out of all 7 projects, my personal favorite it the design from U-handblog, a TypePad-featured blog all about (you guessed it) making handbags. This bag (featured in the accompanying image) has a curved seam and reinforced straps, so no matter how much to put into this sucker, it will still feel comfortable on your shoulders. Don’t let the curved seam scare you off: Lisa does a fantastic job of providing step-by-step instruction and pictures on how to get the job done easily. She also provides directions on how to make a cute little storage pocket, so you can carry your new bag with you all the time (you know, in case that urge to buy some tasty organic peaches comes along). Curious just how much this little bag can carry? A whole heck of a lot: Lisa graciously posted a few images on her blog of the haul she fit into this homemade gem.

Being the greenies we are, using recycled or sustainable fabrics is the first choice when sewing your own creations. You can find a wide range of recycled fabrics just by shopping through any vintage or second-hand store; the drawback here is that you might not be able to find a shirt or pants with enough fabric for this particular projects. For something a bit more modern and colorful, check out my collection of eco-fabric links on my website.

Completed this project? Come back and post some pictures of your creation - we’d love to see them!

Image source: U-handblog 

"The concept started as a sideline for Trina in England when working as a graphic designer. She started recycling wool and making gorgeous throws for a shop in our local village. The concept was very popular and it was a nice earner on the side," said Andy, when I spoke to him last night. To add an extra element of style and durability to their handmade line of bags, swatches of vintage Scandinavian fabrics from the 1960s and 70s are used. "Finding new and funky retro patterns is the favorite part of our bag making. You never know what you’re going to find and it gets the adrenaline going when you discover a fantastic piece."

Making green products is not just a front - it's an integral part of the couple's lifestyle. "The fact that much of our business is made from recycled materials is a reflection on our efforts as individuals to be green. As designers we do feel a responsibility to highlight recycling and perhaps show what’s possible when green sourcing." The collection has been a big hit on Etsy.com, the handmade alternative to eBay. Plans to expand the Katrina Kaye line have already gotten underway.

We already design and make stuffed monsters, retro kids jump suits, rings , belts and other accessories using the vintage fabrics. We’re going to be coming out with a line of vintage lined canvasses and pillows. We also use a lot of recycled felted wool in the winter to make hats/ gloves/ scarves/ ponchos and throws but since having our daughter Sienna 7 months ago many of these things have taken a back seat. Trina is brimming full of ideas but mainly wants to focus on a kids line of clothing (maybe organic) when she can find the time, hopefully in 2008.

If you are looking for an affordable ($35 each), green, unique alternative to the ever-popular bike messenger bags seen all over the country, Katrina Kaye has what you are looking for! New styles are added to their online store weekly.

Victoria Everman: How and when did the idea for Envirosax come about?

Belinda David-Tooze: The idea for making eco-friendly bags came from a discussion had over a glass of wine in October 2004 after returning from a shopping trip. I decided that the polypropylene green bags on offer at most supermarkets were dull and unfashionable and saw the need for a more fun, fashionable item that everybody would like to be seen with and at the same time still spread the message of reusable bags over cheap throwaway plastic bags. The driving philosophy behind the our vision and product range was to ‘move in the right direction’ which is always a catch phrase we have used for various reasons in the past.

VE: What makes the Envirosax brand different from the many other reusable bag companies?

BD-T: Our eco-chic totes are about as far removed from the average shopping bag as is artistically possible and we challenge the lack of stylish or fashionable eco-friendly shopping bags available. Our stylish bags are not only fashionable but also functional and so the design briefs specified that the bags be lightweight, portable, waterproof and have a large holding capacity. Each bag is able to carry the equivalent of 2 supermarket plastic shopping bags or 44 pounds in weight. We also make the ‘move in the right direction’ easier as each bag can roll up and become a lightweight and portable, 1.4oz package. Our groovy bags, available as single items, also come as an assortment of 5 designs contained in a small pouch. The pouch is small enough to stow into a glove compartment or a handbag. This means customers are less likely to leave their eco-bags in the car or cupboard when they shop.

VE: What inspired the various designs in the Graphic Series?

BD-T: We aimed to create totes which captured the bold colours and freshness of Mother Nature, or the designs and whimsy of retro and modern art and culture. The inspiration for the designs on Envirosax bags are drawn from our surroundings (the tropical rainforest and the beach), our passions (art and music) and our background (fashion and travel). Our children often also stimulate a design process, with a simple discussion over the family dinner table, a drawing or even just a simple word.

VE: Are you concerned about using polyester for the majority of your collection?

BD-T: Yes, the bags are made from polyester, which is a plastic, but we had to start somewhere. The idea of the Envirosax came about through the fusion of passion and creativity. The bag was designed to be extremely strong and durable, but still pleasing to the eye. Polyester was chosen so the bags can be printed with several colours, which cannot fade using the process of sublimation. At the time of starting our business, eco-friendly bags were not as widely used as they are now. The whole idea was to encourage even the most ‘non-greenie’ out there to use a re-useable bag. To do this, we had to create something which is completely different to what was already out there. Also, due to the fabric properties, polyester allows the bag to be rolled up into a tiny package and even the unconcerned (or the forgetful) will find it easier to remember the bags if they are stowed in the bottom of their handbag. We have been looking closely at the new Eco Intelligent Polyester. Currently this fabric is only produced for the furniture industry, and, hopefully in the future, we will move towards this new polyester as long as it does not compromise the quality of our product. We understand also the need to produce a bag made form natural fibres and also produce a hemp bag under the organic range. We are currently focusing on increasing the lines in our organic range and will be bringing out several new lines in August.

VE: A series of surfing rash vests and UV shirts are mentioned on your website, though they are not available yet for purchase - can you tell me a bit more about these?

BD-T: We brought out the surfing rash vests at the beginning of our summer here in Australia and sold online throughout summer. We are currently re-designing our rash vest range and will have our 2008 range out around September. The new range will be available throughout 2008 during the Northern Hemisphere summer.

VE: Not only does the brand itself promote environmentally conscious activities, your offices operate under sustainable practices as well, no?

BD-T: In an indirect way. We do a lot of work from home where we live totally off the grid with all our electricity coming from 12, 185 watt solar panels. Hot water is heated using a solar hot water system and huge water tanks, which collect rainwater, provide our entire water supply. Grey water and sewerage is recycled back on to our extensive tropical gardens using a biocycle. Our laptops and cell phones are recharged each night using electricity obtained purely from the sun. Our warehouse is in an industrial area and the builder forgot to add the solar panels on top! So we try and compensate otherwise - our photocopy paper in recycled paper and also our printing is done by a company which uses recycled paper printed with waterless soy based ink. As far as the ‘other little things which matter’ goes, we also use toilet paper made from recycled paper, clean using white vinegar, compost all of our shredded paper and most importantly - encourage our staff to switch the bathroom light off when not in use.

VE: What sort of feedback have you been getting from consumers and retail stores?

BD-T: There seems to be this energised sort of positive attitude towards Envirosax - really positive. When we first started with Envirosax, the aim was to produce a trendy alternative to the existing eco-friendly bag. From this initial concept to what Enviorosax has now become (in Australia - that is) has suddenly seen Envirosax transpire into a must-have fashion item. But of course, it is not just this aspect which is causing a stir - it’s also the actions of all the wonderful consumers who are actually thinking about the environment. Envirosax is just a wanted product - by all in the supply chain. It makes us proud!

VE: Could you tell me a bit more about the company’s involvement in Australia’s Sustainable Living Challenge?

BD-T: The Sustainable Living Challenge is a leading national secondary schools program that encourages students and their teachers to explore sustainability issues. [My husband] Mark has been involved with The New South Wales University Sustainable Living Challenge for the last five years as a school teacher. Last year, his school, All Saints Anglican School, won an “Outstanding Academic Achievement Award” for their successful “Students for a Sustainable Future” conference, which involved 25 students giving 35 presentations on the four corners of sustainability, cultural, social, economic and environmental. This year the students are working on a fuel cell boat as part of their entry and they are also planning another student conference for October 2007. Envirosax became a supporter of the Sustainable Living Challenge in November 2006 by supplying prizes for the competition. Envirosax also attended a Sustainable Living Challenge exhibition in Brisbane this March, to promote the competition and also to educate teachers and students in using reusable bags. In the future, Envirosax would like to get far more involved in fuel cell research using the Sustainable Living challenge as the medium for the students.

VE: What do you say to the folks that still believe global warming is just a myth?

BD-T: I can answer this quite simply. When we first started attending conferences on sustainability and global warming, all the speakers were only talking about the effects of global warming and global dimming. In the last two major international sustainability conferences we have attended, in Hanoi January 2006 and Chennai January 2007, with speakers from Universities around the world, the professors are no longer talking about the effects of global warming, but what we can do to live with global warming. Global warming is no longer a myth but a reality. There is no quick fix to the problem, but a lot of small steps in the right direction will add up to one big step. Envirosax hopefully is one of these small steps.

VE: Do you have any other nifty, secret projects in the works that you could hint at?

BD-T: Our online store in the USA goes live the end of next week. Our product development is going all out and yes there will be some surprises around the corner. Think texture, organic graphics and nourishment!