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A collection of reuse ideas
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I always look forward to justlifeTM Earth Day Carnival each year! The best part is always the brainstorming session for the theme. EDC 2009 team wanted an educational event that is fun and inspiring; with ideas that everyone from all walks of life can adopt and practise in their daily life. Inspired by Y’shin (a young architect that recently embarked on eco-building design) who came out with the first version of layout plan and the book “Cradle to Cradle” (co-authored by architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart), we concluded the EDC 2009 theme -“Reuse”. Hence, the birth of this Reuse Guide. Is it possible that the waste from one factory can be the “food” for another? Guided by this principle and drawing on their experience in (re)designing products like carpet, disposable diapers, office chairs etc, McDonough and Braungart show us how manufacturers can get inspiration from nature in their design. Like nature, there is no waste or pollution if products are designed with consideration of their next useful life! 6
Two weeks ago, in Thailand, I met a very inspiring designer, Dr Singh of OSISU. Coincidently, when we met, Dr Singh has just published a book in Thai titled “Reuse�! Each of his products is hand-crafted from materials left to waste at construction sites or discarded from manufacturing processes. He told me that when he first started four years ago, people often thought he was crazy. However, he persisted simply for his love of nature and planet Earth. Besides design, Dr Singh visits schools to share his stories. I was very touched by his sincerity and thankful for his existence on Earth. We hope EDC 2009 and this Reuse Guide will be an inspiration to all who love living things and the Earth planet, like we do. It is Earth Day, everyday! Love & gratitude
callie CEO
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01 Floor rug made of leftover cloth from garment factory. 8
REUSE—
Your first step towards eco living…
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02 Wasteless comfort.
Water hyacinth, a spongy tropical water weed commonly found in the rivers and lakes of Southeast Asia, has grown so rapidly that it has resulted in water pollution, clogging up many waterways, and a large amount of government expenditure has been dedicated to its removal. In order to give proper incentive to villagers along the rivers and lakes of Thailand for their active participation in clearing the water hyacinth from their waterways, it was necessary to turn this weed into a cash crop. Finally, in 1986, the water hyacinth was given a new lease of life as an environmentally-friendly material used in furniture-making. Designed and made by creative artists and master craftsmen, water hyacinth furniture is truly an object of art and beauty. Its aesthetic simplicity, delicate texture and natural look have drawn interest from interior designers and decorators all over the world.
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Water hyacinth grows densely in clumps of some 8-10 stems, filling up the waterway.
ZECU armchair from YOTHAKA Int’l Co., Ltd www.yothaka.thailand.com 11
03 Found treasure. Shopping (or more like treasure hunting) at flea market is an enjoyable way to go ‘reusing’.
Classic hanging glass lamp from flea market at Ipoh, for only RM8. 12
04 Flawed beauty. Every factory produces defect pieces. Most “defect� pieces can be surprisingly beautiful, unique and often offered at a very good price. Salvage these pieces of art and share it with someone who appreciates beauty in imperfection.
Ceramic plate bought at a factory defect clearance sale at Bangkok, for just 10 Baht. 13
05 Kampung junk style. The kampung wooden houses will soon disappear. When we found out that our hometown neighbour was tearing down his old house, we felt that we should reuse it for our shop renovation. It may be a way to preserve our rural heritage (even it is just a small part), but it was the idea of forest-free make-over that has given the interior its organic accent.
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justlife™ at IKANO Power Center
Another masterpiece from our neighbour. Not for sale.
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06 Loads of ideas.
Chin Yu’s favourite portfolio. Next time before you decide to trash an old machine, think again! Loi_Chinyu@yahoo.com
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The journey from lush forest to furniture store can be an ecological nightmare. Unsustainable logging has contributed to the destruction of billions of acres of forest. Here’s another wood saver who reuse wood that’s been salvaged from trash to make furniture. Stage designer Loi Chin Yu has been doing it as hobby since 2002. He found that the pallet wood that was discarded at Port Klang was pine wood from oversea countries. The wood has beautiful texture and pine is naturally pest resistant. He turned the junk into tables, chairs, book shelves and cabinets. If you like his works, you may talk to him and get your dream furniture custom made, with passion.
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An eco framework.
Nearly all cut Christmas trees are farmed and raised using chemicals at the expense of native plants and wildlife. This justlife™ Christmas tree is made of reclaimed wood to celebrate a greener festive season.
Look for tasteful decorative items without compromising the environment. That’s picture-perfect!
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08 Trash to fame.
Recently, we came across the work of an environmentally friendly Thai architect, Dr Singh Intrachooto. Dr Singh saw a problem in the industry and decided to do something to close the loop. He took leftover scrap from construction sites or factories—wood chips, computer parts, juice cartons, shredded paper, metal, plastic bags and even orange peel— and turned them into stunning, contemporary hand-crafted furnitures, bags and accessories. Each piece being different depending on the size and shape of the materials that get salvaged. Now, Dr Singh’s furniture has exploded and is on display in Los Angeles, Milan and Paris. We have tons of construction waste here in Malaysia that most went straight to the landfill. Why not find values in that trash? Just ask the construction workers to set aside scraps like wood, steel, and concrete. You can close the loop and put scrap materials to good use too.
Each Dr Singh’s creations exemplify a commitment to environmentally responsible design while meeting functional requirements. His design innovation adds value to overlooked resources and extends life cycle of natural materials. www.osisu.com
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Waste no wastes.
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Rubble bags originally used to transport rice, flour, sugar etc can turn into stunning designer pieces. This waste basket was made by a group of warm hearted people for a community project. Each bag is patiently hand picked, cleaned, cut and sewn. The diverse origin and function of rubble bags collected make for a wide variety of designs although limited range. That’s another beauty of reusing.
Used metal containers make stylist waste bins too. Welcome to the era of industrial re-revolution.
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10 Mamak go green. It is good to still see mamak stalls using banana leaf and old newspaper to wrap nasi lemak, as most have already replaced their packing by using coated craft paper or worse, styroform. It usually takes a bit more work to do things the natural way, but for the health of our body, our planet and our future generations, it is all worth it. That’s the inconvenient truth.
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Eco pack.
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We heard about the story of styroform ended up in the stomach of an endangered sea turtle. Now, you don’t have to feel guilty over trashing away your takeaway lunch box. This 100% Malaysia made eco-friendly meal box is made of natural oil palm fibre, which would otherwise become the waste from palm oil factories. It is biodegradable and compostable into natural fertiliser, which means that when you throw it away, you are actually making the soil a bit more fertile.
Each styrofoam box thrown away is one step closer to contamination beyond salvage. Styrofoam is non-biodegradable. It can last for as long as 500 years in our landfill. EcoPak provides a toxic-free and Earth-friendly alternative. Available at justlife™.
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12 Tingkat = sihat!
When hot or oily food (eg: fried noodle or nasi lemak) is in contact with styrofoam containers, they will dissolve a cancer-causing toxin called styrene. Styrofoam food containers are already banned in some countries due to health and environment hazards. Bring your own food container next time you takeaway food. A stainless steel container is an eco-friendly choice, not only because the material is 100% recyclable but also because it is easy to clean without harsh chemicals. Besides, it is a safe choice as it does not react with foods in the container.
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No ‘husk’ chemicals!
Tons of rice husk is piling up in the paddy fields and rice milling factories. Without functional demand, it will be treated as waste and ended up being burned. Get a piece of this rice husk cutting board to support local reuse innovation. Meanwhile, free your food from synthetic chemicals that may leach from conventional cutting board.
Melsom rice husk cutting board. Stain resistant, anti-bacterial and able to withstand higher heat (170ºC) than plastic. Available at justlife™. 23
14 Refill! The write choice. Observe how many pens there are on each office desk. And what do we do when they run out of ink? To the trash, chances are. You can reduce waste by choosing refillable pen, markers and pencil. Refillable pens are available at most stationery shop.
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15 Reused tales! Most books are hardly read more than once. It makes more sense to resell those books to used book stores or online stores instead of stacking on your book shelve. By extending the books’ life cycle, you can benefit more readers. Pay a visit to a second hand book store today and experience a first hand surprise!
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Office eco politic. It is true that a piece of photocopy paper doesn’t cost much from your wallet but the cost in terms of the pollution caused throughout its production can be a real shocking thing. Wood pulp is bleached using chlorine, producing toxins such as dioxin that not only pollute the air and water, but it is also a hormone disrupter. Paper production uses a staggering amount of water, up to 70 million gallons a day. Once used, this water must be treated before it can safely re-enter the eco system. Besides, the entire process is an energy intensive one, requiring the use of power and fossil fuels, which translates into greenhouse gas emission. So, first: Reduce. Think twice before you press the print button on your computer or photocopier. Reduce unnecessary prints is still the best way to prevent trees being cut down and our planet being polluted. Next: Reuse the paper by printing on both sides or use the second side as note pad. Last: Recycle. Recycled paper saves 60% of the energy that virgin paper requires to process, and saves yards of landfill space.
Designer note pad created by reusing misprint pieces from gift wrap printing. A spontanious reuse idea by the creative team from aeiou studio. www.aeiou.com.my 27
17 Eco warriors.
“Beelie bear was shot dead when he got his head stuck in a plastic jar while foraging for food... Hungry and dehydrated, he ran into the city in the middle of a festival and BANG! He died an unfair and tragic death…” The above is based on a true story published in the press shared by Penny Yuen, the creator of eco warriors—a series of characters made of fabric scraps and old plastic bags as filling. Through these little ‘soft toys’, Penny intends to inspire and educate people all over the world to love and to respect nature. You too can help free all living things on Earth from the threat of overloaded junk, by telling good stories.
“Mama Troodi and her two hungry babies, baby Treepi and baby Troopi, mistaken a nice pink plastic bag as yummy jellyfish…”. Story like this is actually happening in real life. Everyone of us can make a change for a happy ending. www.ecowarriorpokok.blogspot.com 28
Stop tissue issues.
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Just like paper, tissue and paper napkins are contaminated by whitening agents, which release toxins that can be absorbed into our body through skin. Those that contain synthetic dyes and scented with artificial fragrances are even worse.
Tissue, paper towel and napkins are all considered personal hygiene or clean-up products. Due to its materials and potential contamination, these products are not recyclable. They continue to leach toxins to our environment throughout their decomposting process. Carry a handkie solved all these problems. It can be washed and reused. Think of all the tissues you could keep from throwing away. Handkerchief made of certified organic cotton and naturally dyed with charcoal. Completely skin- and Earth-friendly. Available at justlife™.
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19 Reusable diaper.
Cloth diapers satisfy all 3 of the all important 3 ‘R’s. Reduce: Using cloth diapers reduce your carbon footprint immensely as disposable diapers require a lot of raw materials to manufacture and transport. Reuse: The same cloth diaper is reuseds not only by one child from birth to potty learning, but can be reused by multiple children! Recycle: A used disposable diaper can’t be recycled (yuck!). Cloth diapers are 90%-100% biodegradable and can be ‘upcycled’ to many other uses (floor cloths, burp mats, etc). Cloth diapers are also healthier as plastic and paper disposable diapers trap heat and most contain absorbing chemical polymers that release gasses when wet. Last but not least, using cloth diapers saves money in the long run! www.tinytapir.com
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“Hull” to sleep well?
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“Cool head, warm feet, deep sleep”. That’s the oriental belief since ancient time. For century, Japanese were searching for the perfect pillow material for cooling head and neck support. Finally, they discovered buckwheat hulls. The unique polygonal shape of buckwheat hull allows air pockets to form, and does not get flatten out during sleep. These pockets of air function as heat ventilator and prevent hot spots on your pillow, keeping your head cool for sound sleep. So, “hull” do you like this reuse idea? Hundred Year Pillow is filled with buckwheat hulls and herbs that produce light scent. The herb scent will prevent insects and dust mite, and it helps to promote sound sleeping. Available at justlife™ Earth Day Carnival 2009.
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21 Loan a bag.
Get this tote bag at RM9.90 and get a full refund when you return it anytime at any justlife™ outlets. No more excuses for not supporting plastic bag free shopping.
Surprisingly light but strong. Fold it up and keep it in your handbag or pocket. It takes up very little space. Available at justlife™.
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22 Source: www.ecoist.com.
A handbag for ecoist. These original, one-of-a-kind handbags are made from repurposed candy wrappers, soda labels, and other food packages that have been discarded by manufacturers due to misprints, overages, or discontinued candy lines. Instead of having the wrappers end up in landfills, The Ecoist™ collects them and turn them into functional, durable and eye-catching handbags that you will simply love to own. Handmade in Mexico, Peru and Brazil. 33
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Dress up your handbag. “I hope that by carrying one of my handbags you feel the spirit that they were created with and enjoy adding to their story.” said Rachael Hampton, the creator of these beautiful bags made of vintage fabrics hand selected by herself, found throughout her travels. Each fabric has its own history and they are one of its own kind. All her works were hand crafted with love and care. There were created in small batches of limitededition combinations of colours and fabrics to honour the uniqueness and entire beauty of all.
Unique piece, only one in stock. Finding new treasures from recreating a little girl’s dress into a custom made one of a kind hand bag. source: www.rajul.fr
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24 Sleeve to sleeveless. Old t-shirts can be easily ‘redesigned’ to a sleeveless comfortable home wear. A pair of scissors is all you need. The sleeves make good hairband. Less cloth means less wastage for washing and ironing. Welcome to the next eco fashion trend—the global warming cut! You don’t have to be a fashion designer to make a face lift for your old t-shirt.
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25 Flexible fashion. Some genius has come out with this fashion that can be worn in multiple ways. Same piece, different ways. With this design, you can opt reuse ideas in a fashionable way! 36
Running out of idea what to wear? Why not work on how to dress up instead?
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Good design is like nature, there is n Think about what sort of soap the riv tree would design a home?
Cradle to Cradle
Remaking the way we make things.
A visionary book co-authored by architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart. Good design is like nature, there is no such thing call waste! Think about what sort of soap the river wants? How a cherry tree would design a home? In nature, nothing is wasted. Consider the cherry tree: thousands of blossoms create fruit for birds, humans, and other animals, in order that one pit might eventually fall onto the ground, take root, and grow. Who would look at the ground littered with cherry blossoms and complain, “How inefficient and wasteful!” We recognise that once they fall on the ground, they decompose and nourish microorganisms, insects, plants, animals and soil. Since the first Industrial Revolution, once the natural resources were extracted, the materials always traveled down the path of “cradle to grave” – process, use, throw and pollute. This manufacturing model has created 38
no such thing call waste! ver wants? How a cherry a vast amount of waste and pollution. The “reduce, reuse, recycle” approach simply perpetuates this oneway “cradle to grave” model. Why not challenge the belief that human industry must damage the natural world? Cradle to Cradle principles take nature itself as the model for making things. Guided by this principle and drawing on their experience in (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, McDonough and Braungart make an exciting and viable case for putting eco-effectiveness into practice and show how everyone involved with making anything can begin to do so as well. Cradle to Cradle approach is a positive move for all businesses that want to stay competitive and profitable – sustainable progress inspired by nature. It shows you how you can have a product that is 100% good where business and environment can go hand in hand. Justlife™ highly recommends “Cradle to Cradle” for designers, business owners, managers, regulators, and environmentalists. 39
26 gDiapers: no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell, no garbage and no guilt.
gDiaper. Still thinking cloth or disposable? Now gDiapers offers a third option: Flushable! gDiapers puts waste where it belongs, in the toilet. Not the landfill. It is designed using the Cradle to Cradle design principles. That means everything that goes into one of the flushables gets re-absorbed back into the eco-system in a neutral or beneficial way. Apparently you can even garden compost the wet ones in one compost cycle, approximately 50 – 150 days.
www.gdiapers.com 40
27 Eco carpet. EcoWorx is the industry’s first 100% sustainable, non-PVC tile backing system. EcoWorx has been recognised with C2C Certification. At the end of its useful life, the top layer of the carpet can be replaced and fully recycled. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded EcoWorx the Presidential Green Chemistry Award for its environmental and performance benefits. Unbelievable performance, infinitely recyclable and oh-so gentle on users.
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28 Eco Chair. Mirra and Foray chairs by Herman Miller are some of the office chairs that have earned C2C certificate. For many years, Herman Miller has been applying C2C principles to its new products, and four of its chair lines and various storage, filing and office setups meet C2C standards for material choice, recyclability and disassembly. Adopting the C2C principles, he is pushing down the path of eventually selling only products designed with the environment in mind.
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29 a-Ford-able. Nearly 100 years after Ford unveiled the groundbreaking Model T, they have come out with yet another revolutionary car (Model U) designed by William McDonough (co-author of Cradle to Cradle). It is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell supercharged engine. Almost nil CO2 emissions and 25% more fuel efficient than a petrol (gasoline) engine without compromising performance. In addition, the body and interiors of the car are also designed with “C2C� principle.
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Never ending story. Imagine a book that is made of plastics developed around a completely different paradigm for materials, polymers that are indefinitely recyclable at the same level of quality – that have been designed with their future life foremost in mind. No trees need to be cut, the ink is non-toxic that can be washed off easily and the plastic can be reused indefinitely.
Cradle to Cradle – Remaking the way we make things, by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, published by North Point Press, is printed on plastic. Although this book is not yet the C2C ideal but it is a big step in that direction.
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31 Re-energise. Conventional household batteries contain hazardous heavy metals such as Lead, Mercury and Cadmium, which frequently ended up air-borne via a ‘waste-toenergy’ incinerator. So, trashing used batteries is a big mistake. Use rechargeable batteries. They can last several thousand uses!
For every rechargeable battery sold, 500 to 1,000 single-use batteries will be saved from entering the waste stream. 46
Solar charger.
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Still think that solar system can only heat up your home water heater? Time for a new solar surprise! You can now solar recharge your handphone, PDA, MP3 player, ipod, digital camera or portable gaming consoles. Thanks to this innovative eco gadget— Nano Lite.
Nano Lite complies with future proposed GSM Association plans to standardise chargers via USB, which allows cross-brand recharging. Less spare charger means less e-waste. While recycling of handphones are now an established business, there is still no established practical way of recycling phone chargers.
You can even share your Nano Lite spare power with others via the multiple connectors. The USB output allows other brands to charge when the given adapters are not compatible. www.solamas.com 47
33 Buy jam, free mug! Packaging and products can be designed with their future upcycling in mind. Like this French jam bottle that could be reused as drinking glass after the jam is consumed. It is a perfect free gift for the customer. 48
34 Glass bottle! Glass bottles consume large amount of resources to be recycled. So reuse them whenever possible. This creative lamp is an excellent example of what you can create out of used glass bottles. Start making yours now! www.smartandcoolhomes.com.com 49
35 Eco-light sculpture. In an effort to create a visual statement of their response to the problem of plastic waste, Lisa Foo and Su Sim M attempted to re-purpose the ubiquitous plastic mineral water bottles into unconventional yet practical light sculptures. The crafting processes employed emphasis on maintaining the inherent quality of the material and on sustaining at low embodied energy. By applying only the most basic methods of manual crafting skills using common stationery and craft tools, the two eco artists aspire to generate worth and ethereal charm out of the mundane plastic bottles. 50
Used plastic bottles to be reused and realised into art by Lisa Foo and Su Sim M. www.lfss-create. blogspot.com
36 Game enough to save the EARTH? If there is a eco game board award, the winner will be no other than the Earthopoly. This eco-educational game board is made of 100% recyclable paper. The ink is soy-based. The tray insert is 100% bottle grade plastic. The shrinkwrap on the box is a corn based product that will break down and disappear completely. The tokens are all made of natural materials and will vary from time to time based on availability. Earthopoly is played in a similar way to Monopoly but with an environmental benefit. Players become the caretakers of wondrous locations around the planet then increase their property value by collecting Carbon Credits and trading them in for Clean Air. It’s all fun and games until someone gets sent to the Dump! So choose your token, and advance to Go Green. Earthopoly is a game celebrating EARTH, one turn at a time! source: www.lateforthesky.com 51
37 Clay power!
Pots made of clay mix that produce far infrared rays (FIR) can function beyond just a cookware or a container. They retain food nutrients, enrich food flavour and enhance food energy at the same time. As long as you don’t drop and break it, you will continue to enjoy the benefits of its FIR. Reuse for life!
bioClay water keeper is made of unique clay mix from Japan that produces far infrared rays (FIR) that can last forever. FIR can soften water and activate water molecules, making it easier to be absorbed by our body. Available at justlife™.
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Detergent no more.
Laundry ball is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional laundry powder and liquid. It can save your money, save your clothes from harsh chemicals, and is friendly to those that are sensitive or allergic to conventional laundry detergent.
They are reusable for up to 1000 washes and it works out to be a lot more cost effective per wash compared to using detergent. No harsh chemicals means less pollution. Shorter rinse cycle means saving water and electricity. So, who needs detergent?Â
Laundry ball contains ceramic stones treated at an extremely high temperature which gives it the functions beyond what a detergent can do. Available at justlife™.
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Detergent DIY, made of kitchen waste. There is a simple formula developed by Dr Rosukon from Thailand to turn your kitchen waste (fruits and vegetables dregs) into enzyme that can be used as multipurpose household cleaner or detergent. The result is surprisingly effective. This enzyme (commonly known as garbage enzyme) which took three months to ferment, is also used as soil enhancer, deodoriser, fabric softener and lots more other usages. We have tried it. And there is only one word to describe: amazing! If you think this is a dirty job, the truth is just the opposite. Garbage enzyme not only does excellent household cleaning jobs, when it flows underground, it will eventually purify the river and the sea too. For detaisl: www.justlifeshop.com/changeclimate
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40 Instant soil maker. Nature takes approximately 500 years to build up an inch of topsoil with beneficial microorganisms and soil nutrients, but industrialisation is causing the lost of 5,000 times more top soil than is being made by nature. Time to catch up! This high speed organic waste composting system can convert organic waste to fertile compost soil in just 24–48 hours. This waste to soil converter not only provides an effective solution to the ever growing waste disposal problem but also a tool to generate extra revenue.
Bio-Mate™ provides an ideal solution to organic waste management that is both cost-effective and profitable. www.weimarbiotech.com
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Shell fertiliser? If you start seeing snails in your garden, it may be a sign that your soil is lacking in calcium, an essential mineral for your plant. It is easy to supplement this nutrient. Just ask the Char Kuoy Teow hawker for some clam shells. Burn the shells until they turn black. Then crush them into powder and sprinkle onto the soil. You should be bidding the snails goodbye in no time as they will have to seek another calcium-free shelter.
This solution is inspired by Mr Gan of GK Organic Farm
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Responsible tourism.
At the time of planning for this Reuse Guide, we came across Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa. We were impressed when we found out that the resort has implemented more than a hundred green practices (listed in their website), and most of which are clever reuse ideas. The resort reused old roof tiles which are still in good condition for new building; old pipes from construction area are reused for channeling rain water to the wetland; broken or leftover slates are reused to make decorative walkway; leftover soaps from guest rooms are reused as cleaning detergent for toilets; used cooking oil is reused for candle lighting; and the list goes on‌
That’s just how committed the Frangipani people are, sparing every effort to ensure the very assets that guests come to enjoy remain as they found them, for many generations to come. After the 2004 tsunami, many fishing boats were destroyed. The resort retrieved one, repaired it and turned it into a cozy sunset bar. www.frangipanilangkawi.com
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Harvest rain water. It is hard to imagine drought hitting our country like Australia but the speed up of current global warming indicates that we should start saving water. A complete water cycle system like this one is a big way towards it. The cycle starts with rainwater, which is diverted to the pool, shower, bath, or basins and then redirected—as greywater—to an underground holding tank. Twice a day, the greywater is pumped from the tank to the top of the wall. The water makes its way through a row of plants, down to the ferns. On its way down, the water is filtered and “polished” (or denuded of tiny particles) by sand and gravel in the garden beds, ready for reuse in the washing machine and toilet. No water wasted.
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Water Cycle Diagram A B C D E F
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Rainwater Collected from Roof Rainwater from Tank to Plumbing Graywater to Holding Tank Holding Tank to Green Wall Treated Water to Laundry Toilet Blackwater to Sewer
Source: dwell, vol 8
B C F
E
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Reverse waste water. If you are using Reverse-Osmosis (RO) water filter system, you may be aware that it creates a lot of waste water. Generally, 4 to 8 gallons on the inflow will leave you with only 1 gallon of filtered RO water. Waste water from RO system is actually pretty similar to tap water in purity levels. So there is no reason not to reuse it. Just reroute and channel it to a container to store and use for other household applications or to water the plants in the garden.
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45 Pay-per-use a chemical. How green can a synthetic chemical company be? Here’s another brilliant business strategy for profitability and sustainability. Instead of selling virgin chlorinated solvents (CHC) to their professional customers, SafeChem, a German company established by Dow, promotes a ‘pay-per-use’ system. The concept was based on provided services rather than selling products. With the introduction of this strategy, the average use of CHC per customer per year has dramatically gone down from 25 ton (1988) to 2 ton (2002). Meanwhile, the market share of CHC for SafeChem has increased from 6.6% during the year 1993/94 to more than 50% in 1999. Currently, SafeChem controls 80% of the total market for CHC solvents. In terms of environmental performance, the life cycle of CHC solvents has been extended through the implementation of a package of services aimed at promoting recycling and reuse. 61
46 Share wheels.
Next time when you get caught in a traffic jam, look around and you will find most of the cars has only one passager in it, the driver. You may start to think: isn’t it a big waste of resources (petrol, time, manpower), and a big way in generating pollution everyday? Nail Peterson from Seattle, US, has noticed this problem 20 over years ago and decided to do something about it. He founded Flexcar—a program that offers an alternative to owning a car. For a fee, the program allows you to “borrow” a car when you need one, and not have to worry about maintenance or the other hassles that come along with car ownership. You reserve a car online, pick it up at a designated spot, and off you go. When you’re done with your errands (or your dates), then return it to the same spot. Every day Flexcar is working towards a place with less dependence on personally-owned vehicles. Less cars on the road means less congestion, less pollution, less dependence on oil, and cleaner, fresher air to breathe. Any taker to start this business in Malaysia?
An average small size vehicle is responsible for a few thousand of CO2 emission in the process of its production. And each time it is driven, it produces at least 20 pounds of CO2.
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47 Used tires are cool! Everyday thousands of worn tires are taken off cars, vans and trucks, causing a major waste problem. Smart and Cool Home—A 100% Malaysian developed technology that makes innovative use of scraped tires in the foundation of houses as heat sink. No air-conditioner is required for home that installed this system as it helps to effectively cool down the interior temperature. This innovation not only helps to reduce the tire mountain, it is another cool contribution to reducing climate change. Smart and Cool Home technology utilises the superior heat-conducting properties of scraped car tires for a cooler home.
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Eco insulation. We might not be tree savers ourselves but we can make maximum use of the trees we harvested which have already been turned into prints. Cellulose Insulation is made from non toxic materials (basically your newspaper) which offers several advantages of a breathing healthy home. It is more efficient in sound and heat insulating than traditional fiberglass which is a known carcinogen, and does not contain formaldehyde binders of fiberglass. It is much more effective at preventing air infiltration (denser) than fiberglass. One hundred pounds of cellulose insulation contains 80 to 85 pounds of recycled newsprint. That’s good news. www.homecomfortcfi.com
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Give it. Don’t bin it.
For things that you no longer need, or you can’t reuse, give it to someone who can. Trashing is the last thing you should do.
Next time, before you send those things to the recycle center, go through them again. Chances are you will think of someone who might be able to use them. Otherwise, donate them to charity centers. That way you are not only being helpful to the people but to the environment too. It may be common to recycle paper, plastic and tin cans but where should you send your other stuff like old computers, printer cartridges or sofas to? This website will lead you the way: www.myrecyclingdirectory.blogspot.com
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50 Reuse this guide. Likewise, if you do not intend to keep this Reuse Guide, pass it on to someone who will read it. Thank you for prolonging the life cycle of this handbook. Happy reusing.
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Reuse Guide is published and designed by
Justlife™ Group Sdn Bhd 15 Jalan PJU 3/47 Sunway Damansara 47810 Petaling Jaya Selangor Malaysia Tel. +603 7880 8035 Fax. +603 7804 9466 Email. info@justlife.shop.com www.justlifeshop.com
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