tis the season

Every year, more than 500 billion plastic bags are distributed, and less than 3% of those bags are recycled. They are typically made of polyethylene and can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade in landfills that emit harmful greenhouse gases..... Reducing your contribution to plastic-bag pollution is as simple as using a cloth bag (or one made of biodegradable plant-based materials) instead of wasting plastic ones. For your next trip to the grocery store, BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)." (source: TIME magazine)

pay it forward or at least be eco-friendly this Christmas season. try and be conscious and give cheap (will not leave a dent on your budget), personal and ecology friendly gift items. this way you not only teach others to follow suit but it can also be a excellent avenue to impart to your children that Christmas gift giving is not about how high-tech and expensive one's gift is. it's about how much time and effort one put in thinking of what present to give..

here is my first installment of 5 entries. suggestions for the weary, no-idea-what-to-give-this-friend-who-has-everything shopper.

Bazura Bags is a women’s cooperative that utilizes ‘Pre-Consumer’ waste packaging gathered from juice container manufacturers and used advertising banners in and around Manila. This waste material is normally deposited into landfills.The co-op cleans the used materials and recycles them into these great bags! Way to take poor recycling systems and find a positive spin!

Great holiday gift too...

and here is my favorite...

the bazura yoga bag..

cute davah!?

Anya Hindmarch's reusable canvas tote

We Are What We Do is a movement attempting to inspire people to change the way they live to “improve our environment, our health, and our communities and make our planet and the people on it much happier”. Idealistic, but they have a point. However they chose to publish their cause with the launch of the Anya Hindmarch, "I am Not a Plastic Bag" to encourage people to use fewer plastic bags at the supermarket.

I saw this being sold at a cozy boutique along Juna Avenue in Matina and they were selling it for php 850. Kinda steep compared to the 5 pound pricetag in the UK.

Locally, we have SM, Rustans, Shopwise Department stores joining the bandwagon of providing cool reusable shopping bags. In Davao, only SM is doing it though. On your next trip to the grocery bring your own reusable canvas (or whatever you have) bag to put your stuff in. Less plastic to clog our canals right? Your kids will thank you for it.